As the mother of a young marine training to go to Afghanistan, Pam Wilson of Chelsea was praying and looking for a way mothers might join together to support each and their children in the military.

When she read a newspaper article about the efforts of Patricia Sellers of Sylacauga to do the same, she had to give her a call. Patricia, also the mother of a young Marine, was working to form an Alabama chapter of Blue Star Mothers of America Inc., an organization for mothers who have children serving in the military.

“I feel this will be a great opportunity to support our children, our veterans and Gold Star Mothers (those mothers who have lost children while serving in the military), while giving us a sense of contribution,” Pam said.

Founded in 1942, Blue Star Mothers was chartered by congress in 1960. The group supports veterans’ health groups and families of the Fallen Heroes of the Global War on Terrorism. The members also work with the Red Cross and the USO and support efforts to bring to the nation’s attention to the plight of POW/MIAs and veterans.

More personal support includes letters and care packages mailed to troops, along with prayers for each other, Sellers said. Sellers is getting paper work together to have the Alabama chapter registered with the national organization.

“We have enough people signed up to start a chapter,” she said. “I’ve had calls from interested people from Mobile to Anniston.”

All interested persons are invited to join the group as associate members.

“We especially want veterans to sign up,” Sellers said.

Sellers is presently working as organizer and treasurer for the local group, while Wilson serves as president.

Sellers’ son, Kevin, was deployed to Iraq with the Marines in 2006 and is scheduled to return soon for another tour. Wilson’s son, Larry, Jr., a new Marine recruit presently in training at Camp LeJune, Ga. expects to be deployed to Afghanistan next year.