Gold Star Kids are not alone ... and that is something that 24 Military Gold Star Teens from Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Camp Murray had the opportunity to experience during a paid educational trip to Washington, D.C., New Jersey and New York City, provided by Jermaine Kearse Programs.

"Making friends is easy because as different as we are, we all have one very significant similarity, a military death," Kara, one of the traveling Gold Star Teens, said.  "We all come from some degree of military backgrounds and we all went through losses, and that makes it so much easier to connect with others like us."

A Gold Star Kid is classified as any youth that has lost a parent in a military-service-connected death.

"The Jermaine Kearse Programs is so incredible!  This trip brings together all different kinds of people, but we all have a few big things that really bring us together," added another traveling youth, Olivia.  "All of the Gold Star youth have experienced a great loss that really affected our futures, and the fact that this program that was started by someone (Jermaine Kearse, who also lost his father at a young age) who went through the same things as us, is truly amazing."

Military kids do not have a choice to sign a dotted line, nor marry into service, yet they all still live with that military badge their entire lives, and some, like these 24, are left to live the ultimate sacrifice.

These Gold Star Kids learned that they are not as different as they might think, that they are not alone and learned more about the past and present history of the armed and civil servicemembers that sacrifice their lives each and every day.

"The history and symbolism throughout the monuments fascinate me so much, and I feel like it's important to learn and understand," said another Gold Star Teen, Kara.  "To be able to learn and travel without the worry of money or whether people will like you gives me a sense of release, especially since at home, things can get tough, and to be able to leave that and come to D.C. and New York and just enjoy what's happening is so special, and I'm so thankful for the opportunity I was given."

Having the opportunity to walk through Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. one day, and through the National September 11 Memorial & Museum another day, could provide a look into how important their sacrifices are for America as a whole.

Experiencing dozens of war monuments, museums and memorials is most undoubtedly somber, especially for these 24 traveling military teenagers, in ways unimaginable, but they were not alone.

"It is really a great thing to be surrounded by people who are in your same boat, and everyone here has formed great friendships," Olivia also added.  "I'm so glad I was able to experience this trip, and I hope many others will get to as well."

They had met new friends that were just like them, and yet so different, new friends in six traveling adult chaperones, new friends with an "always energetic" Education First Tour Guide, named Skye, and of course, 23 other new friends that are living the daily sacrifice just like them.

"My favorite part of the trip was getting to know people just like me," said Chloe, one of the traveling Gold Star Teens.  "I have anxiety, and I felt comfortable with this group, so I didn't have a problem."

By the end of the trip, many new bonds were formed with the new strangers becoming new friends, and living a sacrifice due to the military is something they now can have 23 other perspectives and friendships to look into for kinship.

Editor's note: Last names were not used for privacy.