Service flag
A Service Flag in the United States is an official banner that family members of service members in harm's way can display.[1] The flag or banner is defined as a white field with a red border, with a blue star for each family member in active duty. A gold star (with a blue edge) represents a family member that died during service, without specifying cause of death. The deceased might have been killed in action, or died due to unrelated causes.[2]
History
The Service Flag can also be called a Blue Star Service Banner or a Gold Star Service Banner depending on the color of stars. At times it was called Son(s) in the Service, no longer considered proper.
The banner was designed in 1917 by United States Army Captain Robert L. Queissner of the Fifth Ohio Infantry, in honor of his two sons who were serving in World War I.[2] It was quickly adopted by the public and by government officials. On 1917-09-24, an Ohio congressman read into the Congressional Record:
The mayor of Cleveland, the Chamber of Commerce and the Governor of Ohio have adopted this service flag. The world should know of those who give so much for liberty. The dearest thing in all the world to a father and mother — their children.[3]
Usage
These flags were first used in World War I, with subsequent standardization and codification by the end of World War II.[4] They were not popular during the Vietnam Conflict but have come back into use.[5] In modern usage, an organization may fly a service flag if one of its members is serving active duty.[6]
Manufacture of these flags are only by specific government license in the territories under American jurisdiction.[1] There is no legal specification of material or size, except that when displayed with the national flag, the latter should take the place of honor. If the flags are displayed differ in size, the national flag should be bigger.
Blue and gold are the only colors specified for use, but some say silver stars are customary for those discharged from service because of wounds. [7] Silver Star Families is an organization attempting to encourage the U.S. Congress to make the silver star official for those wounded in military service.[8]
There is no analogous banner known in other countries.
References
- ^ a b U.S. Congress (unknown date). 36 USC 901 provided by Cornell Law School.
- ^ American Legion (unknown date). Blue Star Service Banners a fact sheet provided by the American Legion.
- ^ Nick Artimovich (1997-05-02). Description at Flags of the World.
- ^ John M. Simpson (2005-12-30). Service Flag Graphics.
- ^ ServiceFlags.com, Inc. (unknown date). Service Flags.com.
- ^ Wisconsin Historical Images (2007), World War I "Sons in Service" Flag, http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/museum/artifacts/archives/002160.asp
- ^ Silver Star Families (2005), http://www.silverstarfamilies.org
See also
External links
- Multiple authors (multiple dates). Info about the service flag at Flags of the World. A mirror site of nearly the same information.
- John M. Simpson (2005-12-30). Service Flag Graphics.
- U.S. Naval Academy (1994-11-20). The Service Flag of the United States at USFlag.org.
- U.S. Government (multiple dates). Service Flag and Service Lapel Button fact sheet at a Pentagon web site.
- Louise Shreffler (unknown date). Blue Stars for Safe Return: an organization selling blue star stickers and related merchandise. Contains limited information about service flags.
- ServiceFlags.com, Inc. (unknown date). Service Flags.com for related information and merchandise.
- Multiple authors (multiple dates). The American War Mothers flag by Free Republic. Much duplicated information about the service flag, a forum for tributes to those concerned, plus antique photos and another source for the "Mayor of Cleveland" quote, above.