Caledonia Argus

Blue Star flags honor servicemen and women

Posted: 2/11/03

Since World War I, hanging the Blue Star Flag in a window has been a way of honoring the men and women in the armed forces. American Legion Post #423 of Houston is reviving that tradition by offering the flags free of charge to relatives of servicemen.

ìEveryone thatís got one so far has just been tickled with it,î said ALP #423 Commander Mark Hiser. ìHopefully people will find out about it and itíll catch on.î

Displaying the Blue Star Flag in the home signifies that a close relative is in the armed forces. The tradition originated in World War I, and in 1917, two lines of the Congressional Record indicated how hallowed the flag would be to those affiliated with the service:

ìThe world should know of those who give so much for liberty. The dearest thing in all the world to a father and motherñ their children.î

The flagís popularity dwindled during the Korean and Vietnam wars, but made a comeback during the Persian Gulf War in 1991. Due to the conflictís short duration, however, the flag did not become as prominent as it had been in World Wars I and II.

The significance of the flag, said Hiser, is that it lets soldiers know that the people back home, whether or not theyíre behind the conflict, are behind the soldiers themselves.

ìThe whole point is so the troops know you support them,î said Hiser, ìeven if you donít support whatís going on.î

Hiser, a Vietnam-era veteran, noted that it is disheartening for a soldier to return home to an unsupportive public and an uninviting atmosphere. Hiserís father-in-law, a 31-year veteran of the Marines who served in Korea in Vietnam, returned home from war to find that the country heíd been serving, the people heíd been fighting for, didnít want him around.

ìWhen he got back,î Hiser said, ìit was like he wasnít welcome. We donít ever want to see that again. I think itís important that we stand behind our soldiers, and I donít ever want to see what happened to the Vietnam veterans happen again.î

Flags can be obtained from Post #423 at 121 South Grant Street in Houston, or a printable version can be acquired on the internet at http://cybersarges.tripod.com/bluestarflgs.htm.

ALP #423 paid $7 for the flags, and donations are appreciated but not necessary.

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