Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Banner |
Caption |
Service flag |
Description |
Miniature United States silk service flag from World War I or World War II. Also called a blue star service banner. The flag or banner has a white field with a red border and a single blue star representing a family member in active military duty. The service flag can be of any size as long as it has the proportions of the US flag and is no larger that the US flag when flown together. Members currently serving in the US military are represented on the service flag by a blue star, which stands for hope and pride, while military personnel who have died during their service are represented by a gold star, which stands for sacrifice. Immediate family members of US military personnel and organizations to which service members belong, including church, business, or factory, can display the service flag during times of conflict to indicate that they have loved ones, members, or employees serving the nation. During World War II private citizens hung the service flags in the windows of homes and companies displayed flags on flagpoles or hung them on factory floors or in places where organizations met. The banner was designed in 1917 by United States Army Captain Robert L. Queisser of the Fifth Ohio Infantry in honor of his two sons who were serving in World War I. The flags were first used in World War I, with subsequent standardization and codification by the end of World War II. A gold star (with a blue edge) represents a member that died during service. Some say silver stars are customary for those discharged from service because of wounds. |
Catalog Number |
2011-0001-198 |
Search Terms |
Banners Flags Service flags World War II |
Subjects |
Banners Flags World War II |