Blue Star Flag
The once-prominent Blue Star Flag that hung in windows in wartime is making a comeback. The flag made a brief appearance during the Persian Gulf War in 1991, but because of the conflicts short duration, never really caught on.
The tradition originated with WWI. In 1917, the Congressional Record stated:
"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."
Also known as a Service Flag, the blue stands for hope and pride.
When family members were killed, the blue star was replaced with a gold one representing sacrifice.
A silver star stood for someone invalided home for wounds sustained overseas.
Lapel pins also sported the same symbols.
Captain Robert B. Quiesser, an Ohio National Guard veteran of the Mexican Border (1916), is credited with designing the original flag.
During WWII, VFW actively promoted the flag through window cards and the assistance of radio stations. On October 17, 1943, Congress authorized the flag, and in February 1943, the secretary of war approved an official design.
Although displaying Blue Star Flag's virtually vanished during the Korean and Vietnam wars, it was not until July 31, 1968, that the Pentagon issued regulations governing the design, use, and purchase of Service flags and pins.
To learn more, go to:
http://home.jps.net/~lliving/blue_star_flag001.htm
Blue Star Mothers of America
Blue Star Mothers Offer Constant Care
Sent in by Veterans News and Information Services
By Rudi Williams
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, March 28, 2000 - They’re there when military men and women head overseas. They're there to shower them with love when they come home again. Their thoughts are with them every day, no matter where they are.
They are the Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc., whose members hang blue stars in their windows whenever their children join the armed forces.
Army Capt. George H. Maines conceived the idea for the Blue Star Mothers in 1942. He ran a newspaper article in Flint, Mich., on Jan 22, 1942, requesting information about children serving in the armed forces. More than 1,000 mothers responded.
“By March 8, 1942, more than 600 mothers organized the Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc.,” said Susan Naill, a member of the national board of directors and national recording secretary. Naill also serves as deputy of the Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service.
In 1942, chapters quickly formed in Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Oregon, Iowa, Washington, Hawaii, Pennsylvania and New York, she noted.
“However the blue star flag was created in 1917 and people hung it in their windows to denote that a member of the family was serving in the armed forces,” said Naill, who became a Blue Star Mother in 1993. “The blue star flag was designed and patented by World War I Army Capt. Robert L. Queissner of the 5th Ohio Infantry who had two sons serving on the front line. This flag quickly became the unofficial symbol of a child in 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."
Also during World War I, the blue star became gold if a service member was killed or died on active duty. The Gold Star Mothers of America, Inc. came from this group.
Blue Star Mothers’ sons and daughters returned home safely from a war zone. Gold Star Mothers children were killed in action or are listed as missing.
“Blue Star Mothers have tomorrows with their children, but Gold Star Mothers only have yesterdays,” Naill said.
“I think this legacy has been stored and almost forgotten over the years,” Naill said. “Many of our military sons and daughters don’t know about the significance of the stars -- the blue for hope and pride; the gold for sacrifice to the cause of liberty and freedom. Serving in the armed forces is an honor to our country, to our principles and to our faith.”
Naill said the Blue Star Mothers’ original goals were ”to bring our sons home, to ensure they received the benefits they deserved, help service member’s families, help each other and to be there if something happened.” Over the years, the goals have broadened to rehabilitation, hospital work, children’s welfare and civil defense.
Blue Star Mothers do much more than volunteer in VA hospitals and outreach centers, she noted. “We work in physical and emotional rehabilitation, help with medical supplies, transportation, food, clothing and friendship, gratitude and love,” Naill said. “We show our children and America's sons and daughters that we appreciate them and their service.”
During the Persian Gulf War, the mothers sent a variety of items to service members, including cards, toilet paper, candy, cookies, cameras, microwavable food, toothbrushes, magazines, local newspapers, writing paper, pens and letters from school children thanking them, Naill said.
“If they come home hurt, we’re there at the hospitals,” Naill said. “If my son had come home hurt, I would have wanted a mother to be there for him, whether I could get there or not.”
She said her mother hung a blue star in her window when her father fought in World War II and the Korean War. “My mother told me that she never wanted the blue star to turn to gold because she had an uncle who had died during World War I,” Naill said. “The first thing I did when my son went into the service was to get a blue star for my window. I wanted everyone to see how much my child was giving for our country.”
Naill said she became a fixture at the armed forces recruiting station in Gaithersburg, Md., when her son, then Marine Corps Cpl. Jason Benedick, deployed to the Persian Gulf with the 2nd Battalion 7th Marines. At the suggestion of Marine Gunnery Sgt. Brenda Wolf, now serving at Marine Corps headquarters in Arlington, Va., Naill and a co- worker formed a support group called the Montgomery (County, Md.) Armed Services Support.
More than 100 mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and friends joined the group. They raised money and had service plaques dedicated to Montgomery County residents who served in the gulf. They also had a special plaque made for Air Force Capt. Thomas C. Bland, the only Montgomery County resident who was killed during the war.
The support group also made baskets, posters and cards for the POWs who returned to the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md.
“My daughter, Jennifer Queen, 36, was a great support for me during the Persian Gulf War,” Naill noted. “She also had a half brothers, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Brad Sullivan serving aboard the USS John F. Kennedy. My grandchildren Ashley, Samanatha, and James Queen, have helped in many of the support activities to our service personnel.”
Some mothers do volunteer work with the USO, making ditty bags and greeting service personnel and their families. Naill said a young man or woman in a strange town or country needs to know someone is there to greet them and to listen to their concerns.
Naill said Blue Star Mothers have been active in civil defense since 1942, doing things like finding food and shelter for people devastated by hurricane and floods.
Blue Star Mothers don’t have a permanent headquarters, so the headquarters travels with the national president, Naill noted.
“We used to have a home, but there wasn't much need for it,” she said. “Our numbers have dwindled throughout the years, but we still maintain a strong core.”
Membership is at an all time low. “We have about 1,200 members nationwide,” Naill said. “There were about 30,000 members during World War II and several thousand during the Korean War and Vietnam War.”
“You can find support, the joy of giving and also find people who will understand if something happens,” Naill said. “Even in peacetime they don’t always come back as they left. We have strength in our sisters. We also feel a kindred spirit to our Gold Star Mothers.”
Mothers interested in becoming a Blue Star Mother should write to:
Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc.
Box 555
Kensington, MD 20895-0555
Or, they can call Susan Naill at or send a fax to:
(301) 949-0114.
Their e-mail address is:
bluestarmom@hotmail.com
(Susan Naill, Maryland)
The History and purpose of The Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc.
WHY FOUNDED ~
The Blue Star Mothers of America was founded as a Patriotic Service Organization, February 2, 1942, to unite all Mothers who had sons and daughters in the Armed Forces of the United States of America, into a permanent organization. This organization is a non-political, non sectarian, non racial, and shall not be used for personal or partisan purposes.
OBJECT ~
We are patriotic, educational, social, and for service; maintain true allegiance to the government of the United States; formulate plans to instill in the minds of members and the public, love and reverence to the flag.
ELIGIBILITY
A Mother, adapted Mother, or Step-Mother living in the United States who has a son or daughter who has served or is now serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. The term "Armed Forces" shall include the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marines, U.S. Coast Guards, U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. Navy Reserve, U.S. National Guards, Merchant Marines, and the Armed Home Guards who have served on active duty.
OUR WORK CONSISTS OF
Legislation
Hospital
Servicemen's Hospitality
Chaplains Emergency Fund
Community Service
Child Welfare
