National Gold Star Mother’s Day and Family Day is being observed Sunday, Sept. 24, in the United States.

The event is observed every year on the last Sunday in September.

Congress, in 1936, originally designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mother’s Day in 1936.

The observance was updated and designated as Gold Star Mother’s Day and Family Day in 2011.

When Gold Star Mother’s Day was established by Congress in 1936, the observance was intended to recognize and honor those mothers who lost a son or daughter in the service of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The event now honors mothers, fathers and families who suffered the loss of fallen military service members.

Americanflag.com states “every year, members of the National Gold Star Mothers group gather together in Washington, D.C., to honor the fallen men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States.”

The term gold star originated during World War I when families displayed small banners with a blue star for every immediate family member serving in the armed forces.

If their service member died in service, the family replaced the blue star with a gold star.