Flags hold an important place in the culture of our nation – so much so that they represent a wide range of organizations, groups, and municipal, state, and national entities. I can still remember that even our Cub Scout den and Boy Scout troop had their own flags, which we carried and flew with pride. Our flags also served as symbols of our identity and gave us a stronger sense of unity.
Throughout the year, flags also symbolize those days we’ve set aside to pay homage to our nation, certain events of her history and to those Americans who fought for her and, in some instances, gave their lives in doing so. I could elaborate more about these, but for now, in the next several paragraphs, I want to focus on a flag that I think receives too little recognition. Perhaps this is mainly out of a sense of respect and privacy, but maybe we just don’t think about nor consider the depth of what it represents. As it is said…out of sight, out of mind.
The Service Flag, also known as the Blue Star Flag or the Service Star Flag, is a banner authorized by the Department of Defense for display during wartime by families with members serving in the armed forces. The rectangular flag, which has a white field with a red border, holds one blue star (symbolizing hope and pride) for each immediate family member in the armed forces. A blue star is covered with a gold star, symbolizing sacrifice to the cause of liberty and freedom – and grief when the stars are combined when a family member is killed or dies while serving in the armed forces.
The tradition of the Service Flag dates to World War I, when Captain Robert L. Queissner of the 5th Ohio Infantry designed (and later patented) the banner to honor his two sons serving on the front lines. On September 24, 1917, Ohio congressman Ivory Emerson introduced the flag to Congress, stating: “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.” Banners to symbolize loved ones in service began to appear in the windows of homes across the country.
In 1918, the Women’s Committee of the Council of National Defenses presented a request to President Woodrow Wilson that would allow mothers who had lost a son to sew a gold star onto the traditional black mourning bands. Black armbands signified a person in mourning, and the addition of the gold star symbolized mourning a son lost to the war. President Wilson approved this request, which later transformed into the practice of sewing a gold star atop a blue star on the Service Flag.
By the end of World War II, the Service Flag obtained standardization and codification. While very popular and widely used during World War II, the Service Flag lost much of its popularity by the time of the Vietnam War. During the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War and the War on Terror since 2001, the tradition of the Service Flag was revived.
Originally declared by Senate Joint Resolution 115 of June 23, 1936, and codified in Title 36 § 111 of the United States Code, “Gold Star Mother’s Day” was observed on the last Sunday in September for over 70 years. On September 23, 2011, President Barack Obama amended “Gold Star Mother’s Day” to include families as “Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day.” This year it will be observed this Sunday, September 24.
In October 1918, Grace Darling Seibold (1869 -1947) of Washington, D.C., lost her son George, a British Royal Flying Corps combat pilot, who was killed in action in World War I. Her loss gave her inspiration to devote her time and efforts to working in hospitals and supporting other mothers who had lost their sons in military service. She organized a group of these mothers to not only give each other support but to care for hospitalized Veterans in hospitals away from home.
After nearly ten years of planning and organizing, American Gold Star Mothers was officially formed by Seibold and 25 other mothers ninety-five years ago, in June 1928. In January 1929, the organization was incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia. The organization, which holds a Congressional Charter, was formalized as a non-profit with a mission of remembrance, education, and patriotism. To this day, they support Gold Star Mothers in their grief, hold an annual conference, organize events with supporting groups, and still visit and support Veterans. As one Gold Star Mother expressed, “Without the Gold Star Mother’s program, I wouldn’t have been able to turn my life around. It’s phenomenal to have this kind of support structure. It’s the best thing that’s happened to me. Everybody there knows what it’s like to have a child pass away.”
While each and every Gold Star Mother deserves our unwavering honor and respect, I cannot complete this tribute without mentioning one Gold Star Mother whose sacrifice exceeded most, if not all, the others. Mrs. Aletta Sullivan of Waterloo, Iowa. She and her husband, Thomas had five sons and one daughter. All five sons enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the outset of World War II. The brothers were very close and insisted on serving together. The Navy accommodated and assigned them to serve aboard the light cruiser USS Juneau. In November 1942, the Juneau was destroyed at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, and all five Sullivan brothers were killed. Their mother received official word of her unprecedented loss in January 1943. Overwhelmed with grief, the Sullivans nevertheless gave of themselves to sell war bonds and make other public appearances to fight the war on the home front in tribute to their sons and for the cause of freedom.
There are currently over 470,000 Gold Star families. Gold Star mothers and families suffer a loss too enormous for most of us ever to imagine. Nothing can be said or done to assuage their grief, but through prayers, personal support, and love, may they never feel alone and always know they are honored and appreciated by a grateful nation. This Sunday, let’s be sure to honor them in our own way and remember their loss, their sacrifice, laid at the altar of freedom – our freedom.
Reflections from History and Faith, by Jeff Olson
Cover image: Gold Star Mother’s & Family’s Day, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD – September 23, 2018 (U.S. Army Photo)
Click here to read Jeff’s previous article titled, “Our Constitution: Ignore or Restore.”
We would love to have you join our HSV Property Owners’ Facebook Group. Click here to join.
Click here to visit the Hot Springs Village POA Official Facebook Page.
Please comment below and let us know what you think.
