Kansas Masons To Sponsor Annual Gold Star Family Remembrance and Recognition Ceremony

Kansas Masonic Foundation Partners With Governor Laura Kelly To Honor Families of Fallen Service Members

TOPEKA, Kan. (September 15, 2026)—For the fourth consecutive year, the Kansas Masonic Foundation and Kansas Masons will sponsor Governor Laura Kelly’s Annual Gold Star Family Remembrance and Recognition Ceremony, honoring the families of fallen service members.

The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday, September 24, at the Gold Star Memorial in the Veterans Walkway, located just south of the Kansas State Capitol. Gold Star Families, veterans, current service members, and members of the public are invited to attend.

The annual ceremony offers an opportunity to recognize and remember the loved ones of fallen service members and honor the lasting sacrifices of their families. A Gold Star Family includes the immediate family members of a service member who died while serving during a time of conflict. More than 1.7 million Gold Star Families are registered across the United States.

Kansas was among the few states without a Gold Star Family Memorial on its Statehouse grounds until 2022, when Governor Kelly supported the passage of Senate Bill 333 to establish a memorial. The resulting monument, consisting of a plaque mounted on a granite stone, was placed along the Veterans Walkway near the Capitol.

This year’s sponsorship reflects the Kansas Masonic Foundation and Kansas Masons’ ongoing commitment to supporting and honoring Kansas’ military community.

“Due to their continued support and dedication to our military personnel, Kansas Masons have decided to help sponsor the annual event, which takes place each September,” said Robert Shively, Executive Director of the Kansas Masonic Foundation. “Our Gold Star Families are a vital part of our nation’s military community, and the Kansas Masonic Foundation is dedicated to honoring their sacrifice.”

For additional information about this year’s ceremony, please visit kovs.ks.gov. 

About the Kansas Masonic Foundation:
As the philanthropic arm of Kansas Masons, the Kansas Masonic Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to benefiting Kansas communities and supporting fellow Masons and their families. Since its inception, the foundation has invested more than $50 million in Kansas communities and individuals through funding academic, scientific, and charitable endeavors. For additional information about the Kansas Masonic Foundation and to get involved, please click here.

About the Grand Lodge of Kansas:
The Grand Lodge of Kansas is the governing body of Freemasonry in Kansas, established on March 17, 1856, five years prior to Kansas’ statehood. Freemasonry is the oldest, largest, and most widely recognized fraternal organization in the world. Freemasons are men, aged 18 and over, of good character who strive to improve themselves and make the world a better place. Kansas Freemasonry encompasses nearly 11,000 Kansas Masons and 170 Lodges across the state. For more information, please visit kansasmason.org.