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Margaret McClain often prays for world leaders to avoid military conflicts because she knows they devastate not only lands but also families.
The war dove has devoted decades to assisting altered households and displayed her stand with them Friday, adorning the front door of her home on the 1600 block of South Marston Street with various rights organizations’ emblems, including the Gold Star Wives of America, which that day celebrated its 68th anniversary.
“Like many people, I presume, I frequently worry about our active soldiers and veterans,” the 60-something advocate said Monday outside of her Grays Ferry abode. “However, I’m not sure enough folks have concern for their relatives and what becomes of them when they lose their providers. They commonly suffer greatly.”
Four widows of World War II armed forces members established the Gold Star Wives of America April 5, 1945, with Eleanor Roosevelt joining soon after the April 12 death of her husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States. Incorporation came Dec. 15, with Congress granting a federal charter 35 years later. Along with placing constant emphasis on bettering the lives of war-affected children, the entity has enacted equality by helping widowers, too.
“There are many issues out there for survivors, including compensation for their losses, grief counseling and educational assistance, especially scholarships,” McClain, the assistant secretary for the Greater Delaware Valley/Philadelphia Region, one of 53 national chapters, said. “We want them to have resources and constantly speak on their behalf through interactions with Congress and special projects.”
The Southwest Philly native made Friday her third visual commendation of those remaining individuals, decorating her domicile with the U.S flag, balloons, sashes and Gold Star Wives and Disabled American Veterans insignias. The day doubled as a personal balm for the willing woman, who lost husband and Vietnam War veteran Bernard McClain to a series of health woes shortly after their ’89 wedding and whose father, David James Daniels, fought in World War II and the Korean War.
“It’s not an extravagant display, but it doesn’t need to be to show my pride and express my gratitude,” she said.
McClain had involved herself in the protection and provision of support systems some time before meeting her eventual partner, originally of the 1800 block of South Chadwick Street. Early in their friendship, he helped her to become more aware of dilemmas facing his contemporaries, including difficulty securing employment, receiving proper medical attention and finding housing.
“People often talk about the severity of military life, and, yes, that is undeniable, but he wanted people to address the strain of civilian life, too,” she said of a main post-service aspect of his existence. “He was a very giving man who kept humanity within reach for me, who helped me to realize that so many of those who protect us, as well as their families, go unnoticed.”
As their time together intensified, McClain learned from her future mate that he used his military career, which began in the late ’50s and ended in the early ’70s, to defend his country while likewise solidifying his manhood.
“He wanted distinction so he could prove himself,” she said. “It’s sad, though, that he and many others came to be somewhat or completely dependent people. A lot of them had or have no family members for help, but what about those who had loved ones to support?”
Eager to perform outreach, McClain received provocative yet sorrowful lessons when encountering more veterans through excursions with her forlorn friend. A fervent community volunteer, she began to align herself with the Veterans Health Administration, tabbing families as her focus. That decision eventually bore her presently tireless relationship with Gold Star Wives, which by centering on children played a part in the creation of the Gold Star Sons and Daughters.
“Doling out assistance for the whole family drives the mission,” McClain said. “We are especially interested in reaching the female because she will often be the one left either by herself or with her children.”
With eight regions assisting approximately 10,000 members in 26 states, Gold Star Wives seeks “to provide service, support and friendship to the widows and widowers of military personnel who died on active duty or as the result of a service-connected cause.” As she deals with figures in many states, McClain estimated that as many as 75 members help her to guide parties to the proper authorities, with each encouraged to visit Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals or military medical facilities. The organization also requests their participation in Memorial Day weekend and Veterans Day memorial services and similar tributes throughout the year. McClain, who is planning a similar decorative salute for Memorial Day, gives of her time for Veteran Affairs, the American Legion and the Paralyzed Veterans of America and knowing that her wishes for the suppression of wars could fail to come true, she asks that the affected American populations receive the utmost respect.
“We are looking for federal intervention to have April 5 become a national holiday,” McClain, a figurative soldier in the army of region president Jessica Byrd, who lost husband John Byrd in a 2004 episode in Iraq, said. “I hope we can have our efforts acknowledged because with the way the world is going, we will probably have many more suffering communities.”
She is nurturing aspirations for local youths and is hoping to accumulate enough allies for the restoration of the SS United States, which has rested at Pier 82 on the Delaware River since 1996 and whose owners are looking to transform it into a mixed-use destination and a museum complex, as an educational haven for them.
“Seeing something great for them to call their own would be my reward,” McClain said. “We need children to have chances to be kids, as losing loved ones to war makes many have to grow up too quickly.”
For more information, visit goldstarwives.org.
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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