Introduction to Veterans Siblings Organization

Karen Hickman – Founder

Lynzee Hickman – Webmaster

We started in 2004 as a Non-Profit Organization, it was started due to lack of specific Organization or Group for brothers and sisters of the "Fallen." The Founder, Karen Hickman, lost her own brother Cpl. Thomas Steven Hickman in Vietnam,  Aug 26,1970.  She remembers feelings of lonliness and almost being invisible. From the moment that a Sgt. and and Priest came to the front door on that hot summer day in August, she "Karen" felt as if she was living in slow motion and that time was standing still.

She remembers hearing her mother scream, "OH MY GOD!" and being told by the Sgt., "Miss, my name is — and I represent the United

States Army, is your father at home?" Karen says, "No, he is at work, is it about my brother?" Of course they wouldn’t tell her anything, her

being only being 16 years old at the time. She slowly walked to the telephone, but as she started to dial she drew a blank of what her

fathers work number was. So I informed the Sgt. of where he was employed at, and he continued to call her father.

Then we waited!

Approximately 3-5 days later we were informed that Cpl. Thomas Steven Hickman had been KIA. Then came what she likes to call "Hell on

Earth" (The Funeral Home.) The first time she walked into the funeral home and she smelled the sickening smell of sweet flowers. And

until after the funeral, is much of a daze, even now.

Remembering back what sticks in her mind the most, when would talk to her, about her brother, was, "you have to be strong, for your

parents now." When all she really wanted to do was scream "what about me, he was my brother!" For all these years she has been trying to
conceive of an idea or an organization that would never let another sibling that has lost a brother or sister to war feel left out or alone.

Thus, Gold Star Siblings Inc.

We are now a 501 (c) 3 Charitable Organization. We are search of working with other Organizations, but remaining our own entity.

We are also in need of contributions/donations to purchase comfort items for surviving siblings. We could also use donations of the Gold

Star Banner, for the eldest or only surviving siblings.