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Download Banners
 Blue/Gold
Star
Banners
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. For free color downloads of the banners
click here. Static cling versions for home and
automobile, as well as lapel pins, are available from The American Legion
National Emblem Sales
www.emblem.legion.org .
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.
For more information, contact your local American Legion Post or:
The American Legion, Department of Iowa
Phone: 515-282-5068
Toll free: 800-365-8387
Email: programs@ialegion.org
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