Aservice flag orservice banner is abanner that family members of those serving in theUnited States Armed Forces can display. The flag or banner is officially defined as a white field with a red border, with a blue star for each family member serving in the Armed Forces of the United States during any period of war or hostilities. A gold star (with a blue edge) represents a family member who died during military operations, including those who died during World War I, World War II, or any subsequent period of armed hostilities in which the United States was engaged before July 1, 1958, and those who lost or lose their lives after June 30, 1958:
or those who lost or lose their lives after March 28, 1973, as a result of:
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 in active military service, while the term "Gold Star" has come to refer to the loss of a family member in military service. For example, the mother of a person who died in service is referred to as a "Gold Star mother", and the wife of an active service member is referred to as a "Blue Star wife". Charitable support organizations have been established forGold Star mothers,Gold Star wives,Blue Star mothers, andBlue Star wives. The last Sunday in September is observed as Gold Star Mother's Day, Gold Star family members are entitled to wear aGold Star Lapel Button, and all 50U.S. states andGuam offer some form of aspecialty license plate for motor vehicles owned by Gold Star family members.
President Wilson gave permission to allow mothers or family members to sew over blue star to put gold stars on flag if a family member had passed away overseas at war.[2]
The use of the terms has sometimes been restricted to refer to service during specific armed conflicts. For example, the service banner originally applied only to World War I, and it was later expanded to include service in World War II, then the Korean War, then other specific conflicts, and then "any period of war or hostilities". In some current uses of the "star" terminology, there is no longer any distinction made about the place or time or degree of hostility involved in the military service.[3] For Gold Stars, theDepartment of Defense also makes a distinction about the manner and place of death, but some other organizations do not.[4] The Gold Star term is also sometimes interpreted to apply to thosemissing in action and those who did not die during active service but died later as a result of an in-service injury.[3]
A lesser-known practice of using a silver star to indicate a service member that has been disabled is sometimes also followed, although this practice is not recognized in federal law. The idea of the banner is used primarily in US. Other countries such as Germany or UK don't have a certain banner to symbolize their soldiers they do hold ceremonies to represent lost or active members but nothing like a home front symbol like US.
In August 2024 theRed Star Service Banner was created. Creating a symbol of hope and recognition for the families who have lost a service member or veteran to suicide. On January 28, 2025, Rep. Jack Bergman (MI) read the Red Star Service Banner into the Congressional Record.
The banner was designed in 1917 by U.S. Army Captain Robert L. Queisser of theFifth Ohio Infantry, in honor of his two sons who were serving in World War I.[5][6] It was quickly adopted by the public and by government officials. On September 24, 1917, an Ohio congressman read into theCongressional Record:
The mayor ofCleveland, the Chamber of Commerce, and theGovernor 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.[6]
The United Service Flag Company in Cleveland, Ohio ran an advertisement in the October 1917 issue ofNational Geographic Magazine for service flags and pins, reading:
THE AUTHORIZED SERVICE FLAG
SHOULD BE FLOWN FROM EVERY HOME
Do as Col.Roosevelt does atOyster Bay - fly the "Badge of Honor" from your home, telling all the world that some one from your family is serving the country in army, navy, marines, or other service. This is the original flag so crudely imitated. Approved by War SecretaryBaker. Bill in Congress to make it official emblem. Fast-color, strong,wool bunting, 36 x 24 inches; red border, white field; one large blue star for every man in service; sewed throughout, not printed. Sent postpaid for $2 - 1 to 5 stars. (Larger sizes for clubs, churches, business houses, etc., made to order.) SERVICE FLAG PINS to wear in lapel or waist, 14k. gold plate and enamel, 1 to 3 stars, pin or screw back, high-grade quality, 50 cents; sterling silver; $1; solid gold, $2.
The United Service Flag Co., 1255Schofield Bldg., Cleveland, O.[7]
These flags were first used in World War I, with subsequent standardization and codification by the end of World War II.[8] They were not popular during theVietnam War, but have come back into use since the firstGulf War/Operation Desert Storm.[9] In modern usage, an organization may fly a service flag if one of its members is serving active duty.[10]
Manufacture of these flags is only allowed by specific government license in the territories under U.S. jurisdiction. The same section of theUnited States Code that limits manufacture of the banner also mentionslapel pins. There is no legal specification of the banner's size, but according to the DoD code,[11] the flag size ratio must be 10:19, the same as theFlag of the United States. When displayed with the national flag, the latter should take the place of honor. If the flags displayed differ in size, the national flag should be larger.
Blue and gold are the only colors specified for use, but silver stars are increasingly in use to represent those discharged from service because of wounds or being invalided home.[12]The Silver Star Families of America is an organization attempting to encourage the U.S. Congress to make the Silver Star Service Banner official for those wounded or injured in a war zone. Forty-nine states, Guam, Saipan, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Chickasaw Nation and over 2,700 cities and counties have issued proclamations in support of the Silver Star Banner and of Silver Star Service Banner Day on May 1 of every year.[13]
On April 21, 2010, theUnited States House of Representatives passed House Resolution 855, a stand-alone resolution recognizing the Silver Star Service Banner and making May 1 Silver Star Service Banner Day. One state, Missouri, took steps to make such recognition a state law.[14]
In World War II, the BrazilianClube Militar (Military Club) and theCasino da Urca adopted the concepts of the U.S. service banner by giving posters to the family members of theBrazilian Expeditionary Force. On these posters the phraseDaqui saiu um Expedicionário was written, which means "From here came an Expeditionary". Although the design differs from the U.S. banners, the mothers of the Brazilian soldiers also received a pin prominently featuring a blue star similar to U.S. pins.[15]
The individuals entitled to display the service flag are officially defined in36 U.S.C. § 901 which reads:
A service flag approved by the Secretary of Defense 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.[16]
The U.S. Code also discusses the wearing of lapel pins.
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On the last Sunday in September, Gold Star Mother's Day is observed in the U.S. in honor of Gold Star mothers, as established inTitle 36 § 111 of the United States Code.[17] This was originally declared by Senate Joint Resolution 115 of June 23, 1936.[18]
In 2009,Barack Obama proclaimed the observance as Gold Star Mother's and Families' Day.[19] Since 2011 it has been proclaimed as Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day.[18]
All fifty U.S. states andGuam offer some form of aspecialty license plate for motor vehicles owned by members of Gold Star families.[20]
In Missouri and in more than 2,700 cities and counties, government officials have declared May 1 as a day to recognize service men and women injured, ill or dying from service in a war zone.
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