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<p>It&#8217;s a tradition you may remember or heard of from decades past.</p><p>During World War II, Blue Star Mothers would hang banners at their homes with a blue star for each child serving in the military.</p><p>What many may not know is that the tradition is alive and well, and there is a chapter here in Northeastern Pennsylvania which brings families together and engages in activities to support one another and veterans causes.</p><p>Lori Bishop, who co-founded the chapter, spoke with the Times Leader about its mission.</p><p>Her son, Alex Bishop, 24, is a corporal in the U.S. Marines, a combat engineer currently serving in Japan.</p><p>Bishop founded the group in conjunction with friend Crystal Bernosky, whose son, Jarod, is also in the military and, like Alex, a Tunkhannock Area graduate.</p><p>&#8220;There were a lot players on the football team who went into the service,&#8221; said Bishop, who is a teacher there.</p><p>For her son, the interest in service dated back at least to 9/11, when he was 5 and drew a picture following the tragedy.</p><p>&#8220;He wanted to be an Army man,&#8221; she recalled.</p><p>In time, of course, Alex became a Marine.</p><p>For Bishop, who doesn&#8217;t expect to see her sun until 2021, Veterans Day naturally holds a special meaning.</p><p>&#8220;I really honor and respect anyone who is in the military or who is a veteran,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Sometimes we take our freedom for granted. We need to remember and be grateful for all that we have because of those who serve.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Group in focus</strong></p><p>The Blue Star Mothers chapter has about 35 members, she said, and covers a broad area of Northeastern Pennsylvania, including Luzerne, Lackawanna and Wyoming counties.</p><p>Its activities include an annual Hero 5K run in Tunkhannock, now in its third year, to raise funds for care packages to send to service members.</p><p>They also maintain a military appreciation room at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, where service members can pick up food and snacks while traveling.</p><p>As well, they play bingo with veterans at the VA, and support other projects:</p><p>&#8226; Equines For Freedom, &#8220;Offering free confidential treatment to veterans and first responders suffering from the effects of PTSD, Equines for Freedom is a nonprofit organization utilizing equine-assisted EMDR to help our current and former service members heal.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;Jeff Swire of Patriots Cove is another one of the service providers we like to support each year,&#8221; Bishop said in an email.</p><p>&#8220;There is also a great organization called Warrior Strong. It is a workout facility that provides free fitness workouts for Vets and their immediate families,&#8221; she added.</p><p>&#8220;We do a lot,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Who can join?</p><p>Mothers, stepmothers, adoptive mothers are all eligible, &#8220;and we have a group of dads who are associate members,&#8221; Bishop said.</p><p>For more information, see https://www.facebook.com/bluestarnepa/ or email</p><p>bluestarmothersnepa@gmail.com.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Lori Bishop, President of Blue Star Mothers of NEPA, is seen with son Alex, who is a U.S. Marine. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_71876637_557010805099257_8710288736799162368_n.jpg</photo0><caption0>Lori Bishop, President of Blue Star Mothers of NEPA, is seen with son Alex, who is a U.S. Marine. </caption0><photoCredit0>Courtesy Lori Bishop </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_74930264_968403700210741_1964733820347351040_n-1-.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Blue Star Mothers of NEPA members are seen at the July 4th parade in Montrose. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_74930264_968403700210741_1964733820347351040_n-1-.jpg</photo1><caption1>Blue Star Mothers of NEPA members are seen at the July 4th parade in Montrose. </caption1><photoCredit1>Courtesy Lori Bishop </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Roger DuPuis</p><p>rdupuis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Blue Star Mothers offer support for military members, one another