American Legion Post 49 Promotes Blue Star Banner Program


by Jim Olson
 

The Blue Star Service Banner was originally designed and patented in 1917 by a WWI Army Captain who had two sons serving on the front lines. It soon became the unofficial symbol that someone had a child in the service. During World War II the program was very popular and the Department of War issued specifications for the manufacture of a Blue Star Service Banner with guidelines on when they should be displayed and who could display them. The banner is comprised of a white field and a blue star centered on a red banner. A banner can have up to five stars signifying that a family has five members in the military. A gold star replaced the blue star if a serviceman was killed or died while in the service.

The American Legion is rekindling the tradition of providing banners to families in communities across the country. Locally Post 49 is implementing the program by making card stock versions available free of charge. Banners can be displayed in the front windows of families who have loved ones serving in the armed forces including activated members of the National Guard and Reserves. The family member could be a son, daughter, brother, sister, cousin, husband, wife, grandchild, etc. By displaying a banner in a front window it shows pride for a loved one serving in the military.

If you have a loved one in the service and would like to obtain a banner or learn more about the Blue Star Banner program please call American Legion Post 49 Commander Joe Foruria at 365-7133 or Post Adjutant Jim Olson at 365-7738.