The Golden Star USA Foundation

About our CEO/Founder Autumn Letendre

Born in Wisconsin, Autumn and her family relocated to Bloomington, Indiana during her grade school years. As the only girl in a family of four, Autumn quickly developed strength and competitiveness to keep up with three brothers. Dance, soccer and love for teaching children became passions for her during high school and while attending Milligan College in Tennessee. During the summer of 1997, Autumn met Brian S. Letendre. Their strong Christian faith and love of soccer pulled Autumn and Brian together as they became more than just friends.

When Autumn graduated from Milligan in 1999, she taught first grade at Lawrence Christian School in Lawrence, Indiana while Brian completed his last year at Milligan. Upon his graduation Brian attended TBS at Quantico while Autumn taught first grade and coached soccer and cheerleading at the local high school in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Brian and Autumn were married in Indianapolis on April 21, 2001.

The newlyweds moved to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where Brian was stationed and within weeks, Brian left for his first deployment to Okinawa, Japan. After a short return home, Brian then deployed to Cuba. Autumn and Brian conceived their first child just a few months before Brian left for Iraq in 2002. Dillon Scott Letendre was born the day Brian crossed the line of departure into Iraq (Battle of the Bridges). Autumn watched the U.S. troops move into Iraq on TV as she held their son in her arms. While awaiting Brian's return, Autumn wrote the song, Daddy Loves You, singing it to Dillon and then to Brian upon his return. They were a family, home together for the first time.

Brian was placed as Inspector Instructor (I&I) of Charlie Company 1/25 in Plainville, Connecticut just before Dillon's first birthday in 2004. Brian's new responsibilities allowed Autumn to witness the home side of how the Marine Corps notified families of their fallen. In 2006, Brian's love of country and service led him to volunteer to go back to Iraq. Autumn relied on her organizational and creative talents to develop a guidance book that they both hoped would never be opened. With this deployment, Autumn and Dillon returned to Indiana to be near her parents and two brothers in Indianapolis. Another sibling and family live in Dayton, Ohio.

While raising Dillon, Autumn volunteered at the family business helping her brothers and father. On May 3, 2006, a phone call to her oldest brother changed her life forever. The Marines had gone to her home and her mother called to notify the family that they would soon be at the office. Clients were cleared out quickly, just minutes before the Marines walked through the office door. Knowing immediately Brian had been killed, Autumn asked, Has anyone else been hurt? With dignity, respect and honor for both his and their life together; Autumn followed Brian's wishes and guidance that prepared her as well as he could for the ultimate sacrifice.

Autumn's strong family ties and faith combined with her passion for teaching, have led her to reach out to others who are struggling with the challenges she and Brian experienced during his deployments and return home. Her emotional and motivational speaking engagements have touched numerous groups across the country.

Autumn has been featured in numerous articles, newspapers and magazines around the country noting her love for family and country. Her dedication to her son and pride as a Marine Corps wife and now widow drive Autumn to carry on her passion for service for those who serve our country as well as their dependents.