Blue Star Banner

[Suzanne]

I recently bought a blue star banner because we live in North Idaho and most of the winter the weather is bad and we don't want to put our flag out. A friend of mine told me she had just gotten a blue star banner in her window. I had seen them before and knew that it had something to do with someone serving in the military. When I read the history behind them I had to have one. It gives us a lot of pride to see the blue star banner in the window as we walk into our home. Just wondering how many of you have one in your window. I also ware a lepel pin on my name tag and I have noticed that Sara Palin and Cindy McCain ware them also. The price is under $20.00. I have enclosed some history with a link to read more on them.

Blue Star Service Banners Fact Sheet

* The Blue Star Service Banner was designed, and patented in 1917 by World War I Army Capt. Robert L. Queisser of the 5th Ohio Infantry who had two sons serving on the front line. It quickly became the unofficial symbol of a child in the service.
* On Sept. 24, 1917, an Ohio congressman read the following 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."
* During World War II, the Department of War issued specifications on the manufacture of the flag, as well as guidelines indicating when and by whom the Service flag could be flown, or the Service Lapel button could be worn. The Department of Defense updated the guidelines on December 1, 1967 with DoD Directive 1348.1, which implemented an Act of Congress authorizing a service flag and a service lapel button (U.S.C. 179-182).
* The Blue Star Service Banner typically displayed in windows is an 8.5 by 14-inch white field with a blue star(s) sewn onto a red banner. The size may vary but should be in proportion to the size of the U.S. Flag.
* Today Blue Star Service Banners are displayed by families who have a loved one serving in the armed forces, including the National Guard and Reserves of all military departments ( https://www-perscom.army.mil/tagd/tioh/FAQ/ServiceFlagFactSheet.htm). The banner displayed in the front window of a home shows a family's pride in their loved one serving in the military and reminds others that preserving America's freedom demands much.
* The blue star represents one family member serving in the armed forces. A banner can have up to five stars, signifying that five members of that family are currently in military uniform on active duty.
* If the individual symbolized is killed or dies while serving, the star representing that individual will have superimposed on it a gold star of smaller size so that the blue forms a border. On flags displaying multiple stars, including gold stars, when the flags are suspended as against a wall, the gold star(s) will be to the right of, or above the blue star(s), a place of honor nearest the staff.
* Blue Star Mothers and Gold Star Mothers organizations were established during World War I and remain active today.
* Blue Star Service Banners, while widely used across America during World Wars I and II, were not embraced during the Korean or Vietnam wars with nearly the same enthusiasm.
* The American Legion is rekindling the spirit of pride in our military men and women following the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The American Legion is providing banners to families in communities across the nation.
* The American Legion also has a special Blue Star Banner Corporate Flag for government and corporate America to show their support for employees called to active duty in the war against terrorism.

[Navy Mom Cheryl]

thanks suzanne for this post...mine is all faded and thats the way i want it...it went up the day he left....and wont come down til he comes home for good......people have offered me a nice new fresh one..i politely say no thanks...that faded beat up old blue star flag represents me and everything we have been thru together......and its one of my prized posessions......

[Melody Terry]

Thanks Suzanne, I have the pin to wear on my jackets and two star (one star for my navy child and one for the air force child) but I don't have the flag. Need to look around and find one - do you have a link where we can buy the flags? I got my pin at a navy base somewhere - last year.

[Marty`s Mom]

Melody ..you can find them on ebay. or bluestarmothers.com

[Jenny]

My local American Legion has the flags available for military families. Something you can look into. I think they ask a small fee for one, but it's worth it to have your child recognized by everyone driving by who can see the flag in the window.

[Pam (aka: TJ's mom)]

On Ebay they have Blue Star Banner wrist bands. They have one to five stars. I'll be getting one for me and my hubby....

[Kathy - Proud Mom of Michael]

Thank you for sharing this. I have to have one of these! You ladies are wonderful!