PHOENIX — The last Sunday in September is Gold Star Mother's Day. It's a day to honor the moms and families who have lost children serving our country.
Margy Bons lost her son, Michael Marzano, on May 7, 2005. Marzano was serving in Iraq when he was killed during an ambush attack.
"I miss his hugs. I miss his sense of humor. He had a crazy sense of humor," Bons said.
The grief she still feels is shared by thousands of other parents just like her.
"We just miss our kids," Bons said. "These are our kids, our babies."
So to honor them, Bons started a non-profit called Military Assistance Mission, to help veterans and their families. She also helped create a 'Gold Star Family' license plate available to drivers in Arizona.
"A percentage of when someone gets this goes toward the upkeep of the Enduring Freedom Memorial which is down at the capitol," Bons said.
Bons has this message for other families missing their loved ones every day:
"They're not alone," Bons said. "Their kids are thought of. It's not just a name etched in marble. We know when we see that name etched in marble that there's a child, there's a family behind that name. So know that we look at that and remember that, and we think about those families a lot."
To learn more about MAM, click here.
