Service Flag of the United States
Oct 30, 2008 10:33:52 GMT -6
Post by Moderator on Oct 30, 2008 10:33:52 GMT -6
SERVICE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES
The Service Flag is an official banner authorized by the U.S. Department of Defense that may be displayed in a window of the place of residence of individuals who are members of the immediate family of an individual serving in the Armed Forces of the United States during any period of war or hostilities in which the Armed Forces of the United States are engaged. It is not necessary for the servicemember to be stationed overseas, or be present where hostilities are taking place.
Each blue star on the flag represents a servicemember 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.
Family members authorized to display the flag include the wife, husband, mother, father, step-mother or father, parent through adoption, foster parents who stand or stood loco parentis, children, step-children, children through adoption, brothers, sisters and half-brothers or sisters of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States. 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, also called the Blue Star Flag, was designed in 1917 by U.S. Army Captain Robert Queissner, who had two sons serving on the front line. The flag quickly became the unofficial symbol of a child in service. In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson 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 servicemember has died. Displaying the Service Flag became widespread during WW II. Congress chartered the Blue Star Mothers of America in 1960, and in 1967 codified the Service Flag, specifying who is authorized to display the flags and requiring a license granted by the Department of Defense for the manufacture and sale of the Service Flag and the Service Flag lapel button.
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. When the Service Flag is displayed other than by being flown from a staff, it will be suspended either horizontally or vertically.
A Service Flag lapel button featuring a blue star may be worn by members of the immediate family of an individual serving in the Armed Forces of the United States during any period of war or hostilities in which the Armed Forces of the United States are engaged. The Gold Star lapel button is distributed by the Department of Defense to eligible family members of a member of the Armed Forces who lost his or her life while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly forces engaged in an armed conflict in which the United States is not a belligerent party against an opposing armed force.
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This information is copied from Page 37 of the United States Flag Manual, a publication distributed by the Military Salute Project. Click the following link to view or download the complete manual ...
militarysalute.proboards.com/thread/737/united-states-flag-manual
The Service Flag is an official banner authorized by the U.S. Department of Defense that may be displayed in a window of the place of residence of individuals who are members of the immediate family of an individual serving in the Armed Forces of the United States during any period of war or hostilities in which the Armed Forces of the United States are engaged. It is not necessary for the servicemember to be stationed overseas, or be present where hostilities are taking place.
Each blue star on the flag represents a servicemember 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.
Family members authorized to display the flag include the wife, husband, mother, father, step-mother or father, parent through adoption, foster parents who stand or stood loco parentis, children, step-children, children through adoption, brothers, sisters and half-brothers or sisters of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States. 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, also called the Blue Star Flag, was designed in 1917 by U.S. Army Captain Robert Queissner, who had two sons serving on the front line. The flag quickly became the unofficial symbol of a child in service. In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson 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 servicemember has died. Displaying the Service Flag became widespread during WW II. Congress chartered the Blue Star Mothers of America in 1960, and in 1967 codified the Service Flag, specifying who is authorized to display the flags and requiring a license granted by the Department of Defense for the manufacture and sale of the Service Flag and the Service Flag lapel button.
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. When the Service Flag is displayed other than by being flown from a staff, it will be suspended either horizontally or vertically.
A Service Flag lapel button featuring a blue star may be worn by members of the immediate family of an individual serving in the Armed Forces of the United States during any period of war or hostilities in which the Armed Forces of the United States are engaged. The Gold Star lapel button is distributed by the Department of Defense to eligible family members of a member of the Armed Forces who lost his or her life while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly forces engaged in an armed conflict in which the United States is not a belligerent party against an opposing armed force.
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This information is copied from Page 37 of the United States Flag Manual, a publication distributed by the Military Salute Project. Click the following link to view or download the complete manual ...
militarysalute.proboards.com/thread/737/united-states-flag-manual