On Sunday, July 9, at 11 a.m., the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation will host a presentation of the film Twilight's Last Gleaming at the Vietnam Era Educational Center in Holmdel.  The film will be introduced and discussed by its director, Paul Schneeberger of Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. Members of American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., which is holding its annual convention in Mt. Laurel from July 7 to July 11, will be special guests at the event.

      Since the early days of World War I, a Blue Star displayed outside a family's home indicates that they have a loved one serving with the US military in a combat zone.  If that family member is killed, the Blue Star is replaced with a Gold Star, to honor that person and his or her family for their supreme sacrifice.  In 1928, American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., was established not only to provide comfort to mothers who had lost sons or daughters in warfare, but also to aid the men and women who served and died or were severely wounded during hostilities.

      Twilight's Last Gleaming , a 22-minute film, is a somewhat supernatural story. A Gold Star Mother's son has been missing-in-action in Vietnam for thirty years.  Before Alzheimer's steals her last memory of him, she begins a search to bring him home.  Following this film program the American Gold Star Mothers association will hold a special service at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial featuring as guest speaker, Ambassador Feisal Amin Al-Istrabadi, Deputy Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations.

      Lecture attendees are asked to RSVP to (732) 335-0033. A donation of $5 per person is suggested.  The Vietnam Era Educational Center is located adjacent to the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial off the Garden State Parkway at exit 116.  The Educational Center is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.