For many U.S. Armed Forces veterans and their families, the price of freedom means the loss of time, friends and sometimes even one’s health, but for 6-year-old Caitlyn Burner the cost was even steeper – the life of a loving father.
After spending a few weeks deployed in Iraq, Burner’s father Sgt. John Franklin Burner III suffered through an illness, which quickly turned fatal and led to his passing on Sept. 16, 2010.
Recognized across the nation with their unexpected loss, the Burner household forever became a part of the Gold Star Family, an organization created for the immediate relatives of a fallen service member.
“Growing up, [the loss] was very difficult, especially because I was 6 years old. I didn’t understand what was happening,” said Burner. “But the hardest part was watching my mom and sister go deal with it, too.”
Celebrating her final year at Augusta University as a senior in Kinesiology, Caitlyn Burner is leaving a mark on campus in honor of her dad and those who’ve grieved a similar loss with a new student-led organization known as the Gold Star Family.
“I started it because I knew there were other Gold Star families in my area, and for the longest time I felt alone. I felt like I was the only one at Augusta University,” she said. “Our main goal is educating the community on what a Gold Star family is, because I feel like a lot of people are unaware of what that title means.”
After talking with the club’s faculty adviser and director for Military and Veteran Services at Augusta University Stefane Raulerson, Burner said she immediately began recruiting and reaching out to others.
“I’m hoping this will be something that grows. It’s important for students to feel connected and to feel they belong,” said Raulerson. “I think this is a very unique way for students like [Burner] to know they are not alone, and they can take something that is tragic and sad and make something beautiful out of that.”
Finding fellow Gold Star children by starting the organization, Burner said she was honored to act as a friend and big sister for a particular female freshman as she navigates being away from home and the learning about the different benefits she can receive.
“I get to help her through her benefits and just mentor her through whatever she needs help with,” said Burner. “We understand each other because of what we went through. It gives us that family feel … I just really love providing that community feeling and sense of belonging.”
It is Burner’s hope that every student who is interested in supporting veterans, soldiers and their families – whether or not he or she has lost a loved one to war themselves – will join the Gold Star Family and help bring awareness to the community.
“It’s for anybody with a passion for educating, supporting those in the military and fundraising for a really great cause,” she said. “We fundraise with several events throughout the year.”
Burner’s Vice President Abby Thompson is a shining example of that vision as she is not a Gold Star herself but wanted to support the university effort.
“My husband was a veteran, and he comes from a family of veterans as well, so the whole organization is dear to me,” said Thompson. “I’m really excited to be a part of it and spread that awareness.”
Following Burner’s vision, every year the club plans to fundraise for organizations, such as Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, which focus on offering services and emotional refuge to Gold Star children. As a past beneficiary, Burner said she feels like now it’s her turn to give back to a community that has held her hand through the tough years.
“I really try to fundraise for them as they’ve helped me greatly,” she said. “I just feel like there are a lot of military events, Veterans Day and stuff for them – which is amazing – but there’s this gray area for Gold Star families who have really paid that ultimate sacrifice. So, it’s important for the community to remember them too, because sometimes I feel like we’re a little forgotten.”
In 10 years, Burner said she hopes to see the organization expand to universities and colleges around the country to ensure every Gold Star Family member feels valued.
“We just need to know we matter,” she said. “People don’t know how many of us there are, but they would be shocked.”
To honor those who have fallen in service to their country, Burner said Augusta University’s Gold Star Family will travel to Washington, D.C. in December to place decorated wreaths on the tombstones of those buried at the Arlington National Cemetery.
“That’s just such a great way for families to know that their soldier is not alone on Christmas,” said Burner.
With open membership to all Augusta University students, staff and faculty, Burner said anyone can join by paying a one-time fee of $5 that will go directly towards the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation.
