World War I Gold Star Mothers Pilgrimage Medal issued to Mrs. Margaret A. Neal

2019.16a: A World War I Gold Star Mothers Pilgrimage medal issued to Mrs. Margaret A. Neal of Massachusetts, in commemoration of her pilgrimage to her stepson's, Second Lieutenant Ralph T. Neal's, gravesite at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial in France. This medal is a composite object: a gold toned, nameplate bar pin with a safety catch, holding a red, white, and blue ribbon, attached to a gold medal. The front of the bar pin has a small relief frame with relief text that reads [Mrs. Margaret A. Neal / Massachusetts]. The ribbon is looped over a pin at the bottom of the bar pin and held in place with thread. The medal is attached to the bottom of the ribbon. It is gold toned and roughly teardrop shaped. The obverse is dominated by a five-pointed star at the center of the medal. The star is set inside a circular frame with relief text that reads [PILGRIMAGE OF MOTHERS AND WIDOWS]. Wrapped around the bottom of the circular frame is a wreath. At the top of the medal is the Great Seal of the United States: a bald eagle with its wings displayed, holding a bundle of thirteen (13) arrows in its left talon and an olive branch in its right talon. In its beak the eagle clutches a scroll with the motto [E PLURIBUS] and [UNUM]. Over the eagle’s head there is ring of circular clouds with a starburst at the center. Within the cloud ring is a cluster of thirteen (13) five-pointed stars. A striped shield covers the eagle's breast. Below the seal are two partial American flags. On the reverse of the medal at the top is a stamped maker’s mark for Bailey Banks & Biddle that reads [B.B.B.CO. / ©]. Along the bottom edge are stamped numbers that read [6479].