Pageant to honor Gold Star mothers

By WAYNE PARRY

Associated Press

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.

Mothers whose sons were killed while serving in the military will be honored this weekend as part of the Miss America competition.

The Miss America Organization, the Got Your Back Network, Caesars Entertainment and others will host nine Gold Star mothers as honorary Miss Americas on Sunday in Atlantic City. Three others also will be honored but can’t make it to the ceremony.

They’ll be put up and pampered at casinos, will meet with Pentagon officials and will be honored onstage at Boardwalk Hall before the nationally televised finale begins.

Among them will be Eileen Daly, of Brick, N.J., whose son Sgt. Ronald Kubik was killed in Afghanistan in 2010 and who posthumously was awarded the Silver Star.

“I am so grateful to this group for honoring my son and giving me the opportunity to go to Atlantic City,” Daly told The Associated Press.

Her son was 21 when he died, an Army Ranger leading an assault team in Afghanistan. His mother said Kubik saved the lives of 10 fellow soldiers and 19 civilians on the day he was killed.

The mothers will stay at Caesars casino in Atlantic City. After breakfast Sunday, they will be given spa time, will have their hair and makeup done, will meet with military officials traveling from the Pentagon for the ceremony and will be brought onstage by former Miss Americas during the preshow activities, which are not televised.

They will be given commemorative bracelets.