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HB 2438

Holidays and Days of Special Observance - As enacted, designates November 9 of each year as "Gold Star Father's Day," to honor and recognize fathers who have lost children in service to the United States as members of the United States armed forces. - Amends TCA Title 15, Chapter 2.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Sam McKenzie

Tennessee bill designates November 9 as "Gold Star Father's Day" to honor fathers who lost children in U.S. military service.

Comp. became Pub. Ch. 859
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Bill Summary · HB 2438

Legislative bill overview

HB 2438 designates November 9 of each year as "Gold Star Father's Day" in Tennessee to honor fathers who have lost children serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 15, Chapter 2, which governs state holidays and commemorative observances.

Why is this important

This establishes official state recognition for military families experiencing the profound loss of a service member child. Gold Star families represent those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for national defense, and designating a specific day acknowledges their grief and service contribution at the state level.

Potential points of contention

  • Calendar proliferation: Tennessee and other states have added numerous commemorative days in recent years; some argue this dilutes the significance of official observances and creates administrative burden
  • Gender specificity: The designation focuses solely on fathers, which could be perceived as excluding mothers (Gold Star mothers have historically been recognized separately) or non-binary parents
  • Resource implications: Unclear whether this is purely symbolic or if it entails state resource allocation, agency coordination, or official day-off status for employees

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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