The Blue Star Flag, also known as the Service Flag or War Service Flag, is a tradition dating back to 1917. Army Captain Robert L. Queissner, of the 5th Ohio Infantry, created the flag to honor his two sons, who were serving on the front lines in World War I. It consisted of a white background with a red border, and had a blue star on it for each family member that was serving in the Armed Forces. In the event that a family member died in service, a gold star was sewn over the blue star. The flag quickly became the unofficial symbol of a child in service. Congress authorized the flag on October 17, 1943, and the Secretary of War approved the official design in February 1943. On July 31, 1968, the Pentagon issued regulations governing the design, use, display and purchase of Service flags and pins.

DoD regulations currently state that family members authorized to display the Service flag include “wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, stepfathers, parents through adoption, foster parents who stand or stood in loco parentis, children, stepchildren, children through adoption, brothers, sisters, half brothers and half sisters of a members of the Armed Forces of the United States.” Regulations also state that “the service flag may be displayed in a window of the place of residence of persons who are members of the immediate family of Service members serving in the Armed Forces of the United States during any period of war or hostilities in which the Armed Forces of the United States may be engaged for the duration of such period of war or hostilities. The Service flag may be displayed by an organization to honor the members of that organization serving in the Armed Forces of the United States during any period of war or hostilities. The banners for organizations are also made in proportion to DOD specifications with blue stars placed on the white field to represent those members of the organization that are serving during the war or hostilities.”

” I can totally see how many women choose to not work outside the home. I have spent lots of time daydreaming about having hours upon hours to myself, to fill with errands and leisure in whatever order I decide.”

-may offend those who have made a choice to not join the workforce.

As an Army wife of 9 years, I can say I have had it both ways, working in my career field, meshing 60 hour weeks to his endless hours and cutting out many leisure activities to make room for other Army obligations.

For the last few years I have been a full time SAHM, caring for our two girls, the home, the activities, the “Army stuff” and volunteering close to 30 hours a week to lead parenting groups, organizing food drives at church, serving as president of our Women’s Club, creating a neighborhood cookbook and photo books for departing families, editing a school and FRG newsletter, teaching AFTB courses and Red Cross classes —- the list goes on. I too daydream of ‘leisure time’ as a full-time volunteer.

Perhaps the difference is that I have chosen this path and can select the activities I am involved with to be fulfilling and personally/professionally challenging rather than tasks and timelines dictated by a boss. My benefits are certainly not financial at this time, but knowing that I am making the right choice for our family (as you are for yours) is the only reward I need.

Paid or unpaid, we all seek to find a balance in our lives between work and play. I hope we can all find it!

Sue Himel