The History of the White Star Project
The White Star Project Inc. was founded in 2024 by Ronald J. Kapture, who was deeply affected by the loss of three close military brothers to suicide. During the third funeral, Kapture found himself overwhelmed by the repeated sentiments of fellow veterans, expressing their exhaustion from attending too many memorials and their desperate desire to stop the loss of brothers and sisters in arms.
The idea began to take shape during their drive home from Texas, and Ron soon realized this was a cause he couldn’t ignore. Upon returning to Arkansas, Ron was struck by inspiration, developing the name "The White Star Project" and designing its logo. With a vision now in place, Ron began to assemble a dedicated team to help bring this vision to life. Ron began recruiting the Board of Directors, with his brothers in arms from Charlie Company 2/12 CAV. All the members of the board served and deployed together and have stayed in touch over the years. There was no better group of men to come together and get this movement going.
The mission of The White Star Project is clear and focused: to recognize military families affected by suicide as “White Star Families” and to identify veterans who commit suicide as "White Star Veterans." The organization aims to provide education, post-care services, and resources for veterans and their families, ensuring that the emotional and mental health needs of this community are not overlooked. This mission was solidified after all necessary documents were submitted for The White Star Project Inc. as a non-profit organization.
On November 11, 2024, The White Star Project Inc. officially launched with a steadfast commitment to raise awareness of the suicide epidemic plaguing the veteran community. Through this initiative, the organization seeks to honor the lives lost, provide much-needed support, and help prevent further tragedies. The team is driven by the shared belief that the cycle of loss must end and that the sacrifices of veterans should be acknowledged with dignity and respect.
HISTORY OF THE WHITE STAR LOGO
The journey of The White Star Project’s flag began in a quiet, reflective moment. After returning from a friend’s funeral in Texas, Ron found himself sitting in his office, contemplating the future of a new organization. As he scrolled through pages on his computer, searching for inspiration, something caught his eye—a template of a subdued eagle with a white star in the middle of its chest. It was a simple yet striking design, and the more he stared at it, the more it seemed to speak to him.
He began to experiment with the design, tweaking the colors and elements. he removed the red, rearranged some of the shades, and refined the template until it became the gray and black eagle with the white star boldly positioned in the center of its chest. The star stood out, its brightness On November 11, 2024, The White Star Project, Inc. was officially founded. The logo feat cutting through the darkness of the eagle. It was clear: the design symbolized strength, unity, and courage. At that moment, "The White Star Project" was born, named after the prominent symbol at the heart of the logo. Featured the eagle, with the name "The White Star Project, Inc." placed just below it, and the original motto, “I am my brother’s keeper,” underneath. This early iteration represented a commitment to the bonds between veterans and their unwavering support for one another. The logo, with its powerful imagery, served as a beacon of hope for the community, establishing a foundation for the organization’s growth.
The organization began to take shape with the formation of the Board of Directors on January 8, 2025. As the board members came together, the mission and vision of The White Star Project began to evolve. In seeking broader inclusion, we recognized that the motto might unintentionally exclude others. Thus, we made the decision to drop the motto and further refine our approach to ensure that all service members, including first responders, felt represented.
After gathering feedback from the community and seeking advice on how to gain legislative support, we adjusted the focus of the organization to better reflect the contributions of military veterans, law enforcement, and first responders. We also decided to incorporate a more inclusive color palette into the logo. Green was added to honor the military and their brave calls to service, blue represented the courageous men and women who stand the thin blue line, and red symbolized our brothers and sisters in the firefighting community who run into danger to save others.
On January 15, 2025, the Board of Directors voted on the new logo, which now included these colors and symbols of unity. This adjustment marked a significant moment in the evolution of The White Star Project, as it became a symbol not only for veterans but also for all those who serve their communities—military personnel, law enforcement, and first responders. This updated logo reflected our mission to support and honor all those who sacrifice for the greater good. Since then, the mission and vision of The White Star Project have continued to evolve, and the logo has remained a constant beacon of hope for our community. Today, The White Star Project stands as a symbol of strength, resilience, and unity for all who serve and protect, providing support, advocacy, and camaraderie to those in need.
