Blue Star Banner History and Pattern Ebook
In loving memory, 1925-2003. I will always love you, Momma. Nancy's Fabrics 218 West Edgar Avenue Ronceverte, WV 24970 (304).645.0010 www.nancysfabrics.com info@nancysfabrics.com Nancy's Tutorials Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1)
Blue Star Banner The tradition continues It’s an American tradition to display a Blue Star Service Banner in the window of a home when a loved one is proudly serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. As Americans support troops deployed overseas in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, , the Blue Star Service Banner is a reminder that war touches every neighborhood. The American Legion also offers Blue Star Banner Corporate Flags for corporations and government organizations wanting to show support for employees actively serving in the National Guard or reserve.
Blue Star Service Banners Fact Sheet
The Blue Star Service Banner was designed and patented in 1917 by World War I Army Capt. Robert L. Queisser of the 5th Ohio Infantry. Queisser’s two sons served on the front line. His banner quickly became the unofficial symbol for parents with a child in active military 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.” Blue Star Mothers and Gold Star Mothers organizations were established during World War I and remain active today. During World War II, the Department of War issued specifications on manufacture of the flag, as well as guidelines indicating when the service flag could be flown and by whom. Restrictions were also passed on who can wear the service lapel. The Department of Defense authorized the service flag and service lapel on Dec. 1, 1967, with DoD Directive 1348.1, which implemented an act of Congress (U.S. Code 179-182). The Blue Star Service Banner is an 8.5-by-14-inch white field with one or more blue stars sewn onto a red banner. The size varies but should be in proportion to the U.S. flag. 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. Gold stars are placed above the blue stars or to the top right of the flag, in the event a flag represents multiple servicemembers. Blue Star Service Banners were widely used during both world wars, but were not embraced during the Korean or Vietnam wars with the same enthusiasm. The American Legion rekindled that spirit of pride in our military men and women following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks by providing banners to military families across the nation. For more information, contact The American Legion Public Relations Office at (317) 630-1253
BLUE STAR BANNERS AND QUILTS ~ a symbol in the window honors service men and women ~ Blue Star Service Banners sometimes called Blue Star Flags have long been a part of our wartime history. They have been hung in the family's windows of service men and women since World War One. These banners first became a way for households to indicate they have family members in the service in 1917. At that time World War I Army Capt. Robert L. Queissner designed this symbol in honor of his two sons who were serving on the front line. It quickly became traditional for a gold star to represent a soldier who had died serving his country. Theodore Roosevelt's family had a banner with a gold star in honor of their son who was shot down over France in 1918. This tradition was most common during WWI and WWII though it has been carried out by some in more recent wars. The stars are placed on a white background with a red border. If a family has more than one person in the armed service the stars are put one below the next on the banner. When a soldier dies in action the blue star is replaced with a gold star. Another method is to put a smaller gold star on top of the blue star so the blue still surrounds the gold. Quilter, Judi Fibush, tells of her grandmother replacing the blue stars with gold as her uncles had died at Pearl Harbor. This banner had two stars one above the other. Judi reminded me of the old WWII movie about the true story of the five Sullivan brothers who all died aboard the same ship. The banner was shown in the window at the end of the movie. This incident resulted in the passing of an act ruling that no more than one family member could serve in the same troop or on the same ship. I find myself wondering if this tragic loss of 5 brothers on one ship is why there can be no more than 5 starts on the service banner. Certainly it would reflect a hope that there would never be a need for so many gold stars in one family again. Textile history writer, Joan Kiplinger, recalls this about the blue and gold stars."I remember most of the houses on my street had one or both in their windows -- ours had a gold star for my uncle killed at the outset of war. We were patriotic children, mostly elementary school age, and saluted those homes when we passed them and were always in awe of our friends whose relatives were in the service and looked forward to letters they sent. We in turn wrote them notes of good cheer." As we can see these banners hanging in household windows were common during World War Two. Another example of how important this symbol was in people's minds is a heart breaking poster of a sad eyed dog with his head on a sailor uniform. Behind is a service banner with a single gold star. Obviously the deceased soldier had been this lovable pet's best friend. You can learn a good deal more about these star banners on the American Legion site. Their Blue Star Service Banners Fact Sheet includes information on this tradition both yesterday and today. This document points out, "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." It is very important that we
realize that, by law, these banners are to only be used for this purpose. In 1967 an act of the US congress officially authorized this banner telling how it should be used. There have been Blue Star Mothers and Gold Star Mothersorganizations since World War Two and they continue today. The members volunteer in various ways in support of our nation's soldiers. In the webpage article, Blue Star Mothers Offer Constant Care, one woman explains, "We work in physical and emotional rehabilitation, help with medical supplies, transportation, food, clothing and friendship, gratitude and love." During wartime members send newspapers, cookies and many other appreciated items to service men and women. If you are interested in making a banner or quilt using this flag go to the Quilter's Cache to learn how to make an Armed Services Flag. Also the Military Mom's website has the instructions to make a Blue Star Banner Quilt. It is important that you make these only for families of service men or women, as this symbol is a very special one reserved for this purpose. These flags or banners are only to be displayed during periods of war or hostilities. Of course we can all make other patriotic quilts to show we are thinking of those people who are serving our country in these difficult times. © 2003 Judy Anne Johnson Breneman (Do not reproduce this article without permission from the author.) Thanks to Marcia Hohn of the Quilter's Cache for the above picture of a Blue Star Quilt pattern. For more on Blue Star Banners go to That star in the window marks a proud -- and concerned -family. It's a great article on how Operation Iraqi Freedom has brought about resurgent interest in displaying these banners. Allison Hooper has kindly given permission to put the picture of the two blue stars banner at the top of this article. She also shared the making of this Blue Star banner. "My second-ever quilting project was a Blue Star Banner made to honor my son and daughter-in-law who are both members of the armed services (Navy). It had been an awfully long time since I’d done any appliqué work, so my stars have lots of “character”! The white ground is actually a tone on tone design with a seashell design (I thought this was an appropriate nautical theme!). The red border is a “marbled” fabric, and the blue stars are also tone on tone with dark oak leaf clusters. Once my little quilt/banner was sewn together I got quilting ideas and advice from my quilting mentor, Jan Brown, who suggested I use a stencil of a star in a random all-over pattern. I used clear thread on the top and red, white and clear thread in my bobbin for the all-blue backside. The finished size is 11.5 x 15.75."
Armed Services Flag
Did you know, that since WWI, families have hung a Blue Star Flag in their window, to proudly show that they have a family member in the Armed Services? I thought this might be a nice thing for you to make for your own family, or for someone you know, who may have Armed Service Folks in their family. If you click the banner at left, it will give you an approx 6" star template, to which you will need to add 1/4" seam allowances, and then applique it to a 14" x 9" rectangle of tan or white fabric...by hand or machine. Sew 2-1/2" red border strips to the sides, and then to the top and bottom. Add the batting and backing of your choosing, and quilt as desired :o) A Plain Red, White and Blue fabric would be more in keeping with the Dept. of the Army stats on flags.
See star applique pattern on last page.