Amanda, Absolutely!
A Gold Star Mother’s Love by Amanda Winter Moore
This edition of Amanda, Absolutely! is written for my brave friend, Annette Hall. Having the title “Gold Star Mother” bestowed upon you is an honor that no one wants to receive. Annette is the embodiment of perseverance. Her light shines as a beacon of hope for those who, like her, have made sacrifices in the form of a beloved child’s life given while in service to our country. Her hero son, Jeffrey, was born a leader because he was born to a leader. God bless you, Annette. It was on a cold day in November 2009 when Annette Hall realized her life’s destiny. Five and a half months earlier, her only son, Staff Sergeant Jeffrey Alan Hall, had been killed while on patrol in Wardak Province, Afghanistan. Because of this, her family had been invited to participate as special guests in the annual Veteran’s Day parade in nearby Huntsville. For all intents and purposes, the parade had been a success, but as she observed its participants, Annette became painfully aware that the parade was lacking one very important detail -- there was no representation of the country’s fallen heroes or their surviving Gold Star family members. With this awareness, came the realization that she had an obligation to stand not only for Jeffrey but for all of the fallen warriors of the country. Aware of her life’s destiny, she made a prom-
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ise to herself and her son that she would do all that she could to stand for the fallen so that their service, honor, and sacrifice would not be forgotten. Jeffrey Hall had realized his life’s destiny at an early age. He was only three years old when he began playing “Army.” Annette said he loved to dress up in camouflage clothing and would pretend to be a soldier for hours at a time. His dream of becoming a soldier became a reality when, upon gradua-
tion from high school, he joined the United States Army. He was a naturalborn leader. Soldiers that served with him described him as “the best leader, soldier, and mentor that a soldier could have.” He embraced life with zest, enthusiasm, curiosity, courage, honor, and love of God. Shortly after his death, Jeffrey’s company commander shared with Annette a quote from Steven Pressfield’s Gates of Fire. Having known and served with Jeffrey, he felt that it personified who Jeffrey was as a soldier, leader, and man. Annette, who
sis. The main goals of the group are to serve as a support system for each other; initiate and participate in programs and events that honor the memory, service, and sacrifice of our fallen warriors; and support military service members and their “When a warrior fights families, active and not for himself, but veteran. Each year, for his brothers, when the chapter’s memhis most passionately bers select projects sought goal is neither that they believe will glory nor his own life’s be most beneficial in preservation, but to achieving the goals of the groups. One of this year’s projects includes participatAnnette Hall pictured with her son, ing with the organizStaff Sergeant Jeffrey Alan Hall ers of the annual CotStaff Sergeant Jeffrey ton Row Run race in Alan Hall gave his life Huntsville to place phodoing what he loved and tographs of local fallen was surrounded by those service members on all who had the utmost re- runner’s number bibs for spect for him. the 2020 race. Normally A few years ago, Annette held each year on Mehappened to make the ac- morial Day, this year’s quaintance of the presi- event has been rescheddent of the Birmingham uled for Labor Day, due Area Chapter of Ameri- to the coronavirus. In spend his substance for addition, for families them, his comrades, not can Gold Star Mothers. within the service area of She learned about that to abandon them, not to Redstone Arsenal’s Surgroup’s activities and prove unworthy of them, vivor Outreach Service programs and knew that then his heart truly has program, the chapter achieved contempt for she wanted to organize will also be sponsoring a a chapter for Gold Star death, and with that he summer outing event for mothers in the eighteen transcends himself and Gold Star children and a counties that comprise his actions touch the subthe northern region of the holiday outreach event lime.” state. Driven by the prom- for Gold Star families. Annette shared with me ise that she had made to Anyone who wishes to that, even though there is herself and to Jeffrey, and support the efforts of nothing that can ease the with hard work and deterour local chapter or who sorrow in their hearts, mination, the North Alawould like additional inher family finds comfort bama Chapter of Ameriformation regarding the in the knowledge that, in can Gold Star Mothers North Alabama Chapthe blink of an eye, Jef- received its official charfrey was in the hands of ter in May 2018. They are ter of American Gold Star Mothers may conGod. A devoted husband, a small group of mothers tact Annette Hall at netfather, brother, and son, who meet on a regular batie5455@gmail.com. had always thought of Jeffrey as one of God’s warriors, was so moved by the words that she and her husband chose to have them included on the monument that marks the location of Jeffrey’s grave. The inscription on the monument reads:
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May 15 - June 4, 2020
