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David Salzberg, Jr. and Christian Tureaud, Executive Producers and Directors of The Hornet's Nest We met Terry and Beth Burgess not long after their beloved son, Army Staff Sergeant Bryan Burgess, was killed in action while serving with the 101st Airborne in Afghanistan during 2011. The families who lose a loved one in combat all handle this devastating news differently. Terry and Beth used the love and loss of Bryan to help others through truly selfless acts. The tireless effort that Terry and Elisabeth Burgess put toward helping families in the Gold Star community is second to none and a big part of the inspiration for us to continue making the Heroes of Valor film collection. The Burgess family shows us how to do something amazing and positive from a very tough situation. We love them and they are real heroes just like Bryan. Joy Stevens, Major General, Texas National Guard, Retired, Founder of the Texas War Memorial Colonel (Ret.) James M. Stryker, Chairman, Texas War Memorial http: //texaswarmemorial.com/ As Americans we do not really understand the sacrifices made by our military families. The service member and their entire family serve. Although their family is not in the combat zone, their heart and soul are there with their service member until their service member returns. The sacrifice of parents of fallen service members is the most overlooked burden that they carry for the rest of their lives. A spouse may have the difficult and sad opportunity to secure a new spouse but a parent cannot replace a lost child who they brought into the world, nurtured, and raised. Those special dreams a parent shares of that child's future, are lost forever. Terry and Beth Burgess have done it with class. They have worked diligently with the Texas War Memorial to place a monument on the Texas Capital Grounds to honor all service members and their families that have served since 9/11. Their dedication to help and serve the other families reflects their character and that of all military families. They are imbued with a strong desire to serve our nation. Thank you to all service members and their families. Casey D. McEuin, President and Executive Director Project RELO www.projectrelo.org The Burgesses have experienced loss that no parent should ever have to suffer. They have endured with a level of grace and altruism that is commendable. Through shared experience, what they have done to honor the legacy of their fallen warrior is nothing short of amazing. This book allows the reader to learn the deep understanding of what a Blue Star Family prays will never happen, and how a Gold Star Family copes with the realization of their loss. Karl Monger, Executive Director, GallantFew, Inc. www.gallantfew.org Beth and Terry Burgess are Gold Star parents. In elementary school a Gold Star is the highest achievement. In this sense, however, it is the most awful distinction a person can receive, for it means they have lost a son or daughter in service to our nation, paying the price for our freedom with their very life. I can imagine nothing worse to happen than the death of a loved one, and a Gold Star family member should be among the highest honored and well cared for in our society. Sadly, this is not the case. Most Americans have no idea, and that means resources are few and far between. For Terry, the pain nearly caused him to end his own life. Fortunately, Beth and Terry found purpose in sacrifice and set out to provide a safe, healing space for other Gold Star family members. When Our Blue Star Turned Gold honors their son and tells their story from devastating loss to providing hope and healing.

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Terry Burgess is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Tarleton State University. He and his wife, Elisabeth, moved to Fort Worth, Texas in 1999. They both have worked in the financial and banking industry as business analysts. Terry is the former president of the Chasing Gold Toastmasters Club, an ordained minister, an author of five fiction novels, and the current Vice President of Gold Star Family Relations for The Apache Warrior Foundation. Elisabeth is the current Treasurer of The Apache Warrior Foundation. Terry and Beth created their own registered 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, Gold Star Parents Retreat, which provides a cost-free weekend retreat to any Gold Star parent. Please visit: www.goldstarparentsretreat.org. They are members of The American Legion and the North Texas Patriot Guard Riders. The Burgesses became a Gold Star Family on March 29, 2011 when their son, Army Staff Sergeant Bryan Burgess of the 101st Airborne, was killed during a Taliban Ambush in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. It was Bryan's third tour. In 2013-2014 Terry and Beth toured the United States with The Hornet's Nest, a feature film that includes actual footage of Bryan and his final tour of duty. Their sole motivation in writing When Our Blue Star Turned Gold is to tell Bryan's story to honor his sacrifice, and inspire other Gold Star Families to tell their own stories, so many people will understand and truly appreciate the high costs of freedom. Terry and Elisabeth are available for speaking engagements and events which honor the military and their members' commitments to serve and to sacrifice. Contact them through www.GoldStarParent.com.

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