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.U.S. Congress (unknown date). [http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/search/display.html?terms=service%20flag&url=/uscode/html/uscode36/usc_sec_36_00000901----000-.html 36 USC 901] provided by Cornell Law School. ] 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.U.S. Naval Academy (November 20, 1994). [http://www.usflag.org/history/serviceflag.html The Service Flag of the United States] at [http://www.usflag.org USFlag.org] . ]

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. It was quickly adopted by the public and by government officials. On September 24, 1917, 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. [American Legion (unknown date). [http://www.legion.org/national/supporttroops/bluestarbanner Blue Star Service Banners] a fact sheet provided by the [http://www.legion.org American Legion] . ]

Usage

These flags were first used in World War I, with subsequent standardization and codification by the end of World War II. [Nick Artimovich (May 2, 1997). [http://www.fotw.net/flags/us%5Esvc.html Description] at [http://www.fotw.net Flags of the World] . ] They were not popular during the Vietnam Conflict but have come back into use. [John M. Simpson (December 30, 2005) . [http://www.jms1.net/flag/ Service Flag Graphics] .] In modern usage, an organization may fly a service flag if one of its members is serving active duty. [ServiceFlags.com, Inc. (unknown date). [http://www.serviceflags.com Service Flags.com] . ]

Manufacture of these flags are only by specific government license in the territories under American jurisdiction. The same section of the U.S. Code that limits manufacture of the banner also mentions lapel pins. There is no legal specification of the banner's size. According to the DoD code, the flag size ratio must be 1:1.9. When displayed with the national flag, the latter should take the place of honor. If the flags displayed differ in size, the national flag should be larger.

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. [Wisconsin Historical Images (2007), [http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/museum/artifacts/archives/002160.asp "World War I "Sons in Service" Flag"] . ] 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. [ [http://www.silverstarfamilies.org Silver Star Families] (2007).]

There is no analogous banner known in other countries.

See also

* Blue Star Mothers Club
* Gold Star Mothers Club
* Gold Star Wives
* Gold Star Families for Peace
* Yellow ribbon

External links

The United States Army Institute of Heraldry governs use of the Blue Star. To view U.S. Government approved Blue Star items for display see http://www.ipledge.com

* Multiple authors (multiple dates). [http://www.fotw.net/flags/us%5Esvc.html Info] about the service flag at Flags of the World. A [http://atlasgeo.span.ch/fotw/flags/us%5Esvc.html mirror site] of nearly the same information.
* John M. Simpson (December 30, 2005) . [http://www.jms1.net/flag/ Service Flag Graphics] .
* U.S. Naval Academy (November 20, 1994). [http://www.usflag.org/history/serviceflag.html The Service Flag of the United States] at [http://www.usflag.org USFlag.org] .
* U.S. Government (multiple dates). [http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/FAQ/ServiceFlagFactSheet.htm Service Flag and Service Lapel Button] fact sheet at a [http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil Pentagon] web site.
* Louise Shrefler (unknown date). [http://bluestarsforsafereturn.com 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). [http://www.serviceflags.com Service Flags.com] for related information and merchandise.

References