The Tradition Continues
A Blue Star Service Banner displayed in the
window of a home is an American tradition. The banner lets others know
that someone in the home is proudly serving in the U.S. Armed
Forces. As Americans do their best to support Operation Iraqi
Freedom and the ongoing war on terror, the Blue Star Service
Banner tradition reminds us all that war touches every neighborhood
in our land.
The American Legion also has available a Blue Star
Banner Corporate Flag for government and corporate America to show support for
employees called to active duty with their Reserve or National
Guard units. It should be noted that this is different from the
1926 War Mothers Flag hoisted every Veterans Day at 11 minutes
after 11 o’clock, and which flies until sundown beneath
the U.S. Flag to honor the millions of Americans killed in action
during World War I and World War II.
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. Queissner 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.
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.
Free color downloads are available at
www.legion.org of the banners and static cling versions for home and automobile,
as well as lapel pins, are available from The American Legion National Emblem Sales.
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.
Contact Us for more information!
