By Ed Karvoski Jr.
Contributing Writer
Karen Lounsbury of Cambridge is comfortable interacting with military families. She’s the daughter and sister of veterans, and was a military wife.
“I was always taught respect and dedication for the military,” she said.
Now, she serves as president of the Massachusetts department of the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
“The Gold Star Mothers is a group that nobody wants to join,” she acknowledged. “Most of the mothers participate in Memorial Day services in their areas. But every day is Memorial Day for a Gold Star Mother.”
Her son, U.S. Army Pfc. Bryan C. Lounsbury, was on active duty stationed at Fort Worth, Texas, during Operation Troop Support Iraqi Freedom. He was accidentally hit by a vehicle off base and died immediately January 21, 2008, at age 18.
“You just assume that he’s safe because he wasn’t deployed yet,” she said. “I thought I’d still have some time that I wouldn’t need to worry about him.”
Bryan was born in the Army hospital in Frankfurt, Germany, May 18, 1989. He expressed an interest in the military from a young age, Lounsbury noted.
“He always knew he was going into the Army,” she said. “Every Halloween he wore an Army uniform, which was his father’s or his uncles’.”
Beginning at age 12, Bryan was an active member of the Hanscom Civil Air Patrol and attended many summer encampments.
“He loved the Civil Air Patrol, marching and issuing orders to the Cadettes,” Lounsbury recalled with a laugh.
While studying at Minuteman High School, a vocational technical school in Lexington, Bryan participated in the Future Leader Camp at Norwich University in Vermont. The two-week military-style summer program develops leadership potential in high school students.
Bryan graduated from Minuteman in 2007 and enlisted in the Army that June as a Cavalry Scout.
“I tried to persuade him to go to Norwich University; they sent him applications and tried to get him to go here, but he wanted no part of it,” Lounsbury said. “Before he was 18, he checked everything out and knew he wanted to be a Calvary Scout.”
He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
Six months after Bryan passed away, a flag raising and dedication was held in his honor at Comeau Field in Cambridge, where he grew up playing Little League baseball. The event included a barbecue, raffles and commemorative T-shirts with proceeds going to a memorial fund. The fund awards an annual $1,000 scholarship to a graduating Minuteman student, sponsors baseball teams and offers summer encampments for Civil Air Patrol members.
“It’s nice to know that he is remembered,” Lounsbury said. “It’s wonderful to have so much support from the community and all of his friends. The baseball team is like our family.”
She first coped with the grieving process by attending support groups other than the Gold Star Mothers because her son wasn’t killed in action. Then she accepted an invitation to join the organization when she learned that it’s open to all mothers who have lost a child while serving in the military.
“It’s easier to talk with somebody who has been through the same situation you’re going through,” she said. “It’s a really good distraction, trying to help other people instead of focusing on your own problems by yourself. We’re trying to organize meetings in different areas of the state. And we’re now working together with the Gold Star Wives.”
There are currently 11 local and regional chapters with periodic meetings including Brockton, Everett, Fitchburg, Newton, Somerville and Worcester. Lounsbury encourages anyone statewide interested in participating to contact her at 617-899-4489 or khlounsbury@yahoo.com.
“I can’t help my son anymore,” she said, “but I can help other people who might need a little support.”
For more information about the Massachusetts department of the Gold Star Mothers, Inc., visit massgoldstarmothers.com.
Photo Caption: Karen Lounsbury and her son Pfc. Bryan C. Lounsbury
