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![]() ![]() "The State of Massachusetts, by resolution of its House of Representatives, May 28, 1918, established a new form of recognition of service under the U.S. Kerrick (Champlin Printing Co., Columbus, Ohio 1925) that states (pg. ![]() To elaborate on what Nick Artimovich and Nathan Bliss wrote about this flag, I have a book entitled "The Flag of the United States - Your Flag and Mine" by Harrison S. Some WW II era flags with one or two stars were printed on silk and sold retail for those who didn't feel like sewing their own. However, they are definitely no older than 1917, the date of entry of the USA into WW I. It is not always easy to determine a date for these flags, though I believe that WW I era flags were more likely to be made of wool, and WW II flags usually were sewn of cotton bunting. These larger flags (I have one with some 50 stars in a circle, a quarter of them in gold, measuring about 8 feet long overall) were sometimes flown outside on a pole, but most often were suspended from the ceiling of the factory / meeting hall indoors. Organizations and corporations extended this practice to fly flags incorporating stars for each of their members/employees who were off to war and, of course, would change/overlay the blue stars with gold ones when the news came back that one of theirs had died in action. If a family had a husband and a son, or multiple family members in the service of their country, then additional blue stars were set into the white rectangle. They were always hung vertically, a stick being sewn into the top heading of the flag and a piece of string attached to both ends of the stick - the string suspended at its midpoint from a hook or some other feature of a front window of the home. Sons in Service flags made and used by families usually were no larger than about one foot long. (Hence the name of the organization "Gold Star Mothers" of women who had lost sons in the war.) There were other variations to the star for missing in action, injured, captured, etc, etc, but flags of that sort are rarely, if ever, seen. The star was replaced (or covered) with a gold star (in practice, yellow or dark yellow) if the family member died in action. Each family was entitled to hang a small Son In Service flag in their window, the blue star in the center of the red-bordered white rectangle signified a family member in active service. The "Sons in Service" flag was used during World War I and World War II. ![]() Keywords: united states | service star | blue star | gold star | ww i | ww ii | sons in service | in service | service flag | Just Curious?: Your everyday questions, answered.This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website Service Flag (U.S.) Service Star, Blue Star Banner Then, another act was passed in 1818 reverting to the original 13 stripes. The Smithsonian reports that the Act of January 13, 1794, allowed for 15 stripes and 15 stars after May 1795. However, there was a brief period in which the American flag bore 15 stripes. Standard American flags always have 13 stripes, as established in the original 1777 statute. The numbers shake out to seven and six based on the first of the 13 stripes being red. PBS reports that the Continental Congress, on June 14, 1777, passed an act that established an official flag. The act read: “Resolved, that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” There is not a specific reason for the number of red versus white stripes. This day in history: Congress adopts the stars and stripes Why are there 7 red stripes and 6 white stripes on the flag? ![]() The blue background behind the stars represents vigilance, perseverance and justice. However, PBS reports that, generally, red denotes hardiness and valor, while white symbolizes purity and innocence. The colors of the stripes do not have an officially designated meaning and are inherited from the British flag. The 13 stripes on the American flag represent the 13 original colonies at the country's founding. What do the 13 stripes on the American flag represent? ![]()
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