Altus Air Force Base News

 

Altus AFB implements reserved parking for Purple Heart recipients, Gold Star families

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nathan Clark
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  
If you have driven around base recently you may have noticed the addition of a few parking spaces at the Commissary, Club Altus, the Medical Group and Base Exchange, reserved for Purple Heart recipients and Gold Star families. 

These reserved spaces are a result of the efforts put forth by Miriam Hamilton of Vance Air Force Base, Okla., to honor the service members who've been wounded or made the ultimate sacrifice and to raise awareness in the Air Force of what the Gold Star means.

Hamilton was inspired to gain recognition for recipients of the two awards when she was visiting a Naval Station and saw the spaces reserved for the Gold Star Families.
The signs hit home for Hamilton because she and her family are Gold Star recipients.

If you're asking yourself 'What does the Gold Star mean?' that's exactly why she has made the push for recognition of the awards.

The history of the Gold Star dates back to World War I, where special flags were displayed in homes of fallen service members depicting a gold star. Since then, the tradition has been carried on in various ways where now a Gold Star lapel pin is presented to members of the families of service men and women who have lost their lives in military conflicts.

Hamilton and her three children lost their husband and father, U.S. Air Force Capt. Nathan Nylander, a meteorologist, in a fire fight while he was deployed in 2011.
Hamilton said she wants these signs to serve as not only a memorial, but as a way to educate the people on Air Force bases. "I've spoken to people of all ranks and told them we are a Gold Star Family and they would say "What's that?", she said. "People need to know what that means."

Hamilton is now stationed at Vance AFB with her current husband, and presented the idea to U.S. Air Force Col. Clark Quinn, 71st Flying Training Wing commander. "The sign represents more than just a reserved parking spot for our combat wounded and Gold Star Families. It also serves as a constant reminder to all who see it that many military members and their families have given so much to their nation," he said. "We all know that's true, but we also probably don't remember it often enough."

With hopes of having the signs on all Air Force bases, Hamilton moved her efforts to Altus AFB.

"I think it's a fantastic idea," said U.S. Air Force Col. Bill Spangenthal, 97th Air Mobility Wing commander. "We should do all we can to honor those who have sacrificed limb or life for our country. Something as simple as a sign can serve as a constant reminder of those we've lost and to let families know we will continue to support them."

With two bases on board already, Hamilton hopes to see more of these signs as memorials throughout the Air Force.

"We're starting with one base at a time," Hamilton said, "But we want to see the whole Air Force embrace this before we're through. As a Gold Star Family, sometimes you just feel lonely in the world," she said. "For them to care about what we're doing is a big deal.