History of the Blue and Gold Star Banner

The history of the Blue Star Banner leads us back to World War I and Army Captain Robert. L Queissner. Captain Queissner designed this service flag to represent his two sons which were serving on the front line during this war. The Blue Star Banner became an unofficial way to show that your family had a child in the services. Over time the flag has transitioned to simply represent any family member who is serving in the Armed Forces at a time of war or hostility. In 1918 President Wilson added, from a suggestion by the Women's Committee of the Council of National Defense, that if the family member was lost while serving that the blue star was to be covered with a gold star. The blue would be symbolic of hope and the gold would symbolize sacrifice for freedom. In World War II the Blue Star Banner became very popular and could be seen in almost every window in which it was applicable. The Banner is traditionally hung in the window of a home as to allow all who pass the residence to view it and know the family has a member at war. It is known that only immediate family members of the person serving in the United States Armed Forces are to display the flag. The list of expectable relation includes: grandparents, wife, husband, mother, father, step parent, adopted parent, foster parent, child, stepchild, adopted child, brothers, sisters, and half brothers and sisters. In 2001 on the historic day of 9/11, this flag became an official representation for a family to display to symbolize a serving member in the Armed Forces and was to be hung through the duration of a period of war or hostility. It is also a common practice to hang an American flag with this banner, but the American flag is to be of equal or larger size and is to hang above the service flag.