A bill that would expand eligibility to Gold Star parents — whose children died while in military service – has cleared its final hurdle, and now awaits President Obama’s signature. Under the measure, state veteran homes would be open to those parents who lost one or more children while in uniform. Under current law, such residency was only available to Gold Star parents who lost all their children while serving in the armed forces. The House approved H.R. 4505, sponsored by Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, on June 30. The Senate followed in suit, approving a comparable bill, S. 1450, on Sept. 23. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev, sponsored the Senate measure.
