Senator Suzette Martinez Valladares (R-Santa Clarita) announced today that Antelope Valley Blue Star Mothers has been named the Senate District 23 Nonprofit of the Year. The recognition was presented at a ceremony held at the Lancaster Cemetery, where the organization has long served as a steadfast presence honoring those who gave everything in service to their country.
"The Antelope Valley Blue Star Mothers represent the very best of what it means to serve," said Sen. Valladares. "These are mothers, grandmothers, and family members who know firsthand the sacrifice that comes with sending a loved one into uniform – and instead of waiting at home, they got to work. It is my honor to recognize them as Senate District 23's Nonprofit of the Year."
Founded nationally in 1942 – just six weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor – Blue Star Mothers of America is a Congressionally Chartered 501(c)(3) veterans service organization with a mission rooted in supporting service members and their families.
The Antelope Valley chapter, CA14, was organized on August 28, 2005, and has served the High Desert community for nearly two decades as a nonpartisan, nonpolitical, and nonsectarian organization open to mothers, stepmothers, adoptive mothers, foster mothers, and grandmothers of those who have served or are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces.
The chapter's work spans the full spectrum of military support. Members assemble and ship care packages to service members stationed around the globe, coordinating with local schools to include handwritten cards and community messages alongside food and hygiene supplies.
The chapter actively honors fallen warriors, supports Gold Star Families, advocates for POWs and MIAs, and champions suicide prevention among veterans. Members attend memorial services, homecomings, parades, and community ceremonies.
The Lancaster Cemetery is a fitting setting for the award presentation, as it is hallowed ground that the Blue Star Mothers have helped steward – ensuring that no veteran buried there is forgotten.
"No veteran should be forgotten, and no military family should feel alone – that is the standard the Antelope Valley Blue Star Mothers hold themselves to every single day," said Sen. Valladares. "Their presence at memorials, their care packages crossing oceans, and their quiet work purchasing headstones for veterans with none – that is what service beyond self looks like. District 23 is deeply proud to call them our own."
The Senate District 23 Nonprofit of the Year designation recognizes organizations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to community, embody the values of service and sacrifice, and make a measurable difference in the lives of residents across the district.
Click here for more information about Antelope Valley Blue Star Mothers CA14.