Gold Star Game Honors Fallen Heroes and Their Families

Every day, WoodmenLife works to give back to communities, support families, and honor our country and those who defend it. An annual event in North Carolina exemplifies all three values in one touching project.

Honoring Fallen Heroes

In September, WoodmenLife Chapter 4 in Wadesboro, NC, and Chapter 70 in Marshville, NC, teamed up for the third-annual Gold Star family dinner and football game, held in partnership with Anson County Schools.

Gold Star families are those who have lost a loved one in the line of duty. Four families are selected — generally in the North Carolina West region — and are invited to attend the dinner and game for free.

Four senior football players are chosen to play in honor of the service members and wear jerseys with the names of the fallen heroes during the game. This year’s honorees were:

• Second Lieutenant Henry Liles Allen, United States Air Force — represented by Jackson S.
• Lance Corporal James Thomas Byrd, United States Marine Corps — represented by Tasean H.
• Lance Corporal John Tillman III, United States Marine Corps — represented by Dock H.
• Private First Class Emmett F. Hill, United States Army — represented by Luke T.

The families of the fallen service members were presented with a replica jersey with their loved one’s name and rank on the back.

Putting in the Work

Clint Davis, a Recruiting Sales Manager in Wadesboro, NC, has been involved with the event since its inception.

Each year, one of the chapters takes turns either planning and hosting the dinner or prepping for the tailgate and game.

“From that point on, WoodmenLife finds the service members, researches the genealogy to locate the closest-living relative, makes contact with them, sets up the events, caterers, prepares gift bags for families, and then lines up the game with the high school,” Davis explained.

Special Moments

This year, WoodmenLife President & CEO Denise M. McCauley traveled to Wadesboro for the event. She spoke at the dinner and was the honorary captain during the game, taking part in the coin toss before kickoff.

Davis said it was an honor to have McCauley speak and see all the hard work that goes into the event. He also was proud that McCauley could witness the touching moments between the young athletes and the Gold Star families.

“At the dinner on Thursday night, the football players get to meet the Gold Star families for the first time,” he said. “It’s a little like an adoption-type ceremony.”

Also during the dinner, a replica jersey is presented to the families with their loved one’s name and rank on the back.

“They’re encouraged to wear those jerseys at Friday night’s game and actually become part of the high school environment,” Davis said.

Then, on the day of the game, food is served during the tailgate, volunteers display an oversized American flag on the field prior to the game, and the Gold Star families are recognized during halftime.

This year was also special because Chapters 4 and 70 sponsored a Gold Star scholarship, which will be awarded to one of the senior players for their outstanding achievements in their four years of high school.

This year, WoodmenLife President & CEO Denise M. McCauley spoke at the dinner and was the honorary captain during the game.

A Touching Tribute

Davis said he has two favorite moments of the event: first is seeing the families receive their custom jerseys, and second is during the game itself when one of the seniors makes a significant play.

“Any time one of the football players does something to impact the game — throw a touchdown, make a good catch, make a tackle — it’s not their name getting called, but the service member’s name getting called over the loudspeaker,” Davis said. “So, the family gets to hear their loved one’s name announced, hopefully multiple times over the speaker.”

Getting Better Each Year

Every year, Davis said he aims to find one way to make the dinner and game even more successful than the last.

In 2026, the game will be held on Friday, Sept. 11, which will be the 25th anniversary of the attacks at the World Trade Center.

“We’re going to try to do a fireworks show after the game,” he said.

For Davis, this annual event is truly special.

“What better way to give back than to give to those who gave everything for us?” he said. “The Gold Star game, in my opinion, is a way we get to say ‘thank you’ to the families who made that sacrifice. This is a small opportunity where we get to show our gratitude for all that they’ve done.”

Written by: Cheyenne Alexis, Communications Strategist

Read More

Honoring Veterans With a Wreath-Laying Ceremony at WoodmenLife National Convention

Proudly Supporting the Gary Sinise Foundation in Honoring Our Veterans

WoodmenLife Sponsors Lone Eagle Honor Flight

For 10 Years and Counting, Louisiana Chapters Have Supported Quilts of Valor^®

WoodmenLife Celebrates Veterans by Assembling Breakfast Bags

WEB915