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Navy Gold Star Program Information & Resource Site

Navy Gold Star is the Navy’s official program for providing long-term support to surviving families of Sailors who pass while on Active Duty. If you are visiting this page because you are a surviving family member of a deceased service member, please accept our most heartfelt sympathy and gratitude for your loved one’s service and sacrifice in defending our nation . . .

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Navy Gold Star Coordinator Support

Navy Gold Star Coordinators provide support to families around the world. Find a coordinator near you.

Navy Gold Star Tributes


U.S. Navy
Seaman
Cherone Gunn
12 Oct 2000
Cherone followed his dad's footsteps and joined the U.S. Navy in January 2000. He planned to use his military experience to go in law enforcement. He was a very lovable and affectionate child and young man. Cherone was killed in the terrorist attack of the USS Cole. Before 9/11 there was 10/12.
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U.S. Army
LTC
Livingston Hickling
24 Jul 2020
LTC Livingston Hickling loved to serve the country. He was a truly infantryman, he treasured his time as an enlisted soldier after transitioning to become an Officer. He was very proud of his Ranger tab. He deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. He served as an AGR in the Hawaii National Guard, his last assignment was at NGB in Arlington Virginia. He was very private about personal life but was a loyal friend and a good listener. He was a great husband and an excellent father. He loved World History and was an avid reader. He always planned special birthdays for the family but didn't like to celebrate his. He enjoyed to serve others and always been behind the scene working hard to "accomplish the task" one of his favorite things to say was " if you are going to jump off a cliff, go face first to enjoy the view". He got a sudden diagnosed esophageal cancer and passed away two months later on August 3rd 2020. He was 41 years old. He is buried in section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery.
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U.S. Navy
HM3
Luke Luong Ellison
19 Aug 2014

Throughout his service with the Navy, Luke practiced the qualities of being a hospital man in his compassion, service dedication and kind demeanor.  He was born April 14, 1990 in Vietnam and died August 19, 2014 at Beaufort SC. 

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U.S. Navy
LT
Serena Wileman
15 Oct 2024

To know Serena is to know love. Her gregarious heart, earnest curiosity, radiant kindness, and radical resilience were just a few of the many gifts and lessons she left to her family, community, and all those she met. We remember with tenderness and gratitude the fierceness and determination of her spirit, the brightness of her laughter (which still echoes in our hearts) and the generosity and wholeness of her loving presence. The impact of her care, her smile, and her character matched the depth of her beauty, boldness and bravery. In all life’s endeavors, she was committed to giving her whole self. Serena died too soon in a training accident with her friend Lyndsay who she shared a matching tattoo with: appropriately including their legacy “Little Acts of Kindness”. She is incredibly missed by her mom, Lisa, her brother Joe and his family, her sister Teresa, and her brother Mitch.

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U.S. Navy
CPO
Nicolas Checque
08 Dec 2012

Nicolas D. Checque was a highly skilled and courageous Navy SEAL who dedicated his life to serving his country. Born in Pennsylvania, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and became part of the elite SEAL Team 6, demonstrating unwavering commitment, bravery, and selflessness. On December 8, 2012, during a daring rescue mission in Afghanistan to save an American doctor held hostage, Checque made the ultimate sacrifice. His actions embodied many of the SEAL ethos as he fearlessly led the charge to ensure the safety of others. Awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, his legacy lives on through the lives he impacted and the freedoms he defended. Remembered as a humble warrior with an unbreakable spirit, Nicolas Checque’s heroism continues to inspire those who follow in his footsteps. His sacrifice reminds us of the true cost of freedom and the depth of his devotion to duty.

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Navy Gold Star Testimonials