Sisters residents can order banners

Many families in the Sisters community have expressed interest in displaying a Blue Star Banner to show their support for family members in the service.

A recent story in The Nugget reported that the Blue Star Banner was intended to honor mothers whose children are in action.

According to Jack Berry of the Sisters Veterans Group, "the initial intent of the Blue Star Banner was to honor family members whose children were in the service. It was not necessary for them to be in action."

The history of banner stars dates back to 1918 when mothers whose sons were killed in action wore black arm bands displaying a gold star, Berry reported. About the same time the Blue Star Banner was started to honor family members in military service.

A gold star was placed on a banner when a service member was killed. Today there are 200 chapters of American Gold Star Mothers whose members have lost children in military service. The organization serves veterans in local communities and in veterans' hospitals across the nation. It also works closely with veterans' organizations.

"Since the attack on the World Trade Center and the war with Iraq, there has been countrywide interest in finding ways to show support for the military," Berry said.

The American Legion has decided to encourage citizens regardless of their connection to the military to display a Blue Star Banner as a way of showing support for the military.

They can be ordered from the Legion emblem catalogue for $6.95.

The catalogue number is 72982. The phone number is 1-888-453-4466. The mailing address is American Legion Emblems, P.O. Box 1050, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-1050.

For more information call Jack Berry at 549-1358.