The Service flag is an official banner authorized by the Department of Defense for display by families who have members serving in the Armed Forces during any period of war or hostilities the United States may be engaged in for the duration of such hostilities.
The Service flag, also called the Blue Star Flag, was designed and patented by WWI Army Captain Robert L. Queisser of the 5th Ohio Infantry who had two sons serving on the front line. The flag quickly became the unofficial symbol of a child in service. President Wilson became part of this history when in 1918 he approved a suggestion made by the Women's Committee of the Council of National Defenses that mothers who had lost a child serving in the war wear a gold gilt star on the traditional black mourning arm band. This led to the tradition of covering the blue star with a gold star on the Service flag to indicate that the service member has died.
During WWII the practice of displaying the Service flag became much more widespread. Most flags were hand made by mothers across the nation. One of the most famous flags was that of the five Sullivan brothers who all perished on the U.S.S. Juneau.
The Blue Star Mothers was founded as a Veteran Service Organization and was part of a movement to provide care packages to military members serving overseas and also provided assistance to families who encountered hardships as a result of their son or husband serving in the war.
In 1960 Congress chartered the Blue Star Mothers of America as a Veterans Service Organization and in 1966, the Department of Defense revised the specifications for design, manufacture and display of the Service flag.
The Department of Defense specifies that family members authorized to display the flag include the wife, husband, mother, father, stepmother or father, parent through adoption, foster parents, children, stepchildren, children through adoption, brothers, sisters and half brothers or sisters of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States. The flag should be displayed in a window of the residence of persons authorized.
The Service flag may also be displayed by an organization to honor the members of that organization serving during a period of war or hostilities.
The Service Flag is an indoor flag and should be flown facing out from the front window of the home or organization.
If the U.S. flag is also displayed with the Service flag, the U.S. flag should be of equal or greater proportions and should take the place of honor above the Service flag.
Each blue star on the flag represents a service member in active duty. A gold star is displayed if a service member is killed in action or dies in service. If several stars are displayed by one family the gold star takes the honor of being placed at the top. The gold star should be slightly smaller than the blue star to create a blue border surrounding the gold star.
Display of a Service Star Banner is done during times of war. Once again families are displaying banners at home. Blue Star Flags may be purchased through the internet, at stores, or made by hand.
If you would like to print a flag please use this link to Home of the Heroes or click HERE
Flags may be purchased on the internet at ServiceFlags.com
FAQs
Today, families display these banners when they have a loved one serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. The blue star represents one family member serving, and a banner can have up to five stars. If the individual is killed or dies, a smaller golden star is placed over it.
Can grandparents display a blue star flag? ›
The Department of Defense specifies that family members authorized to display the flag include the wife, husband, mother, father, stepmother or father, parent through adoption, foster parents, children, stepchildren, children through adoption, brothers, sisters and half brothers or sisters of a member of the Armed ...
What is the blue star flag etiquette? ›
Families are encouraged to display the banner in the window of a home when a loved one is serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. The blue star represents one family member serving, and a banner can have up to five stars, according to The American Legion.
What makes you a blue star mother? ›
Membership is open to mothers or stepmothers who have sons and/or daughters currently serving, or who have been medically or honorably discharged from the five service branches of the United States, as well as the National Guard, Reserve and the Merchant Marine.
Who qualifies as a blue star family? ›
What is a Blue Star Family? A Blue Star Family consists of the immediate family member(s) of a service member during a time of conflict.
What is the difference between a blue star mother and a gold star mother? ›
Based on the star symbols used on the Service Flag, the term "Blue Star" has come into use in the United States as a reference to having a family member on active military service, while the term "Gold Star" has come to refer to the loss of a family member in military service.
What is the history of the blue star service flag? ›
The service flag's origins date back more than a century. During World War I, Captain Robert L. Queisser of the 5th Ohio Infantry created and patented the Blue Star flag design in honor of his two sons serving overseas. The flag soon became the unofficial symbol for a child in service.
What did a gold star in your window mean? ›
Family On the Homefront Stars in the Window Sweethearts. The number of blue stars on a service flag represented the number of members from that family serving in the military. A gold star placed over a blue star indicated the death of that family member.
Who can join Blue Star Mothers? ›
About Blue Star Mothers1. We are mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, foster mothers and female legal guardians who have children serving in the military, guard or reserves, or children who are veterans. We support each other and our children while promoting patriotism.
What is a white star mother? ›
Green/White Star
A Green Star Family or a White Star Family is a family who has experienced a military loss through suicide from any branch of service. A White Star Family also includes first responders and medical frontline workers.
On February 1, 1942 their first meeting was held and 358 mothers attended. They showed their support of Captain Maines and the Blue Star Mothers of America was formed. This meeting was reported in the Flint Journal on February 2, 1942.
What does a flag with a blue star mean? ›
The service flag, also known as the Blue Star flag, is an official banner authorized by the Department of Defense (DOD) for families who have members serving in the United States Armed Forces.
What is the meaning of the mother's flag? ›
If so, it is the Mother's flag, for the white lotus is her symbol as the red lotus is mine. The blue of the flag is meant to be the colour of Krishna and so represents the spiritual or divine consciousness which it is her work to establish so that it may reign upon earth.
What is the blue star symbol? ›
The Blue Star Universal Symbol for colorectal cancer is free to all groups and programs as part of our mission to promote unity in the colorectal cancer field, in recognition of our shared common goal to prevent and eradicate colorectal cancer.
What does the blue star mean spiritually? ›
The Blue Star Kachina is said to be the ninth and final sign before the "Day of Purification", described as an apocalypse or a "world engulfing cataclysm" that will lead to the destruction of the world. Author Jason Colavito investigated this prophecy and found no reference to it before the late twentieth century.
