Blue Star, Framed Photo

Photo shows James H. Kieran in uniform, in a special frame designed to replicate the Service Flag. Alice Kieran (mother of James H. Kieran) hung her blue star Service Flag from the front of her home in Salem, MA. From Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc.: "The Service flag is an official banner authorized by the Department of Defense for display by families who have members serving in the Armed Forces during any period of war or hostilities the United States may be engaged in for the duration of such hostilities. "The Service flag, also called the Blue Star Flag, was designed and patented by WWI Army Captain Robert L. Queisser of the 5th Ohio Infantry who had two sons serving on the front line. The flag quickly became the unofficial symbol of a child in service. President Wilson became part of this history when in 1918 he approved a suggestion made by the Women's Committee of the Council of National Defenses that mothers who had lost a child serving in the war wear a gold gilt star on the traditional black mourning arm band. This led to the tradition of covering the blue star with a gold star on the Service flag to indicate that the service member has died."

Institution: Salem Public Library

1918

1 photograph : b&w

14 x 8.5 cm.

No copyright restriction.

Blue Star Mothers of America

Photograph

blue star