Throughout our Flags for Heroes campaign, we've had the privilege of learning about the incredible veterans who have served our country with courage and dedication. These stories, filled with sacrifice and resilience, serve as a powerful reminder of the true meaning of patriotism.
We’re honored to share the story of Diana Pike, an Army veteran and Gold Star Mom whose life reflects extraordinary service, admirable resilience, and profound loss.
Story submitted by Joseph Zaleski: "Diana Pike (Momma Pike to us) is an Army veteran and a Gold Star Mom. In 1975 she joined the Women’s Army Corps. After basic training, she attended Morse Incept Operator School in Boston, working in Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) from Japan to Germany for more than a dozen years. She served in Berlin during the pivotal occupation in the early 1980s. Sergeant First Class Pike retired from the Army in 1988 but continued to work in intelligence as part of the National Security Agency (NSA) in Virginia. In 1993, a tragic car accident left her with two young children, Christian and Denise, without a father. With the GI Bill, Momma Pike earned her master’s degree in leadership at Western International University. Her son Christian enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 2001 and was also drawn to intelligence. In March 2013, he was mortally wounded during a fierce gun battle in Afghanistan. Diana found herself in Germany once again, but this time in Landstuhl, to say goodbye to her only son, Cryptologist Tech Chief Christian Pike. She is an amazing mother to Denise who is an artist and an amazing young lady because of the strength of her mom. She is one of the strongest people I know and a true testament to what a veteran and a mother give up for this country."
Thank you, Diana, for your honorable service, sacrifice, and dedication.
