Wright Museum
           of WWII History

(Published November 2007)

As unprecedented numbers of Americans heeded FDR’s call to service following the attack on Pearl Harbor, millions of red-bordered flags began appearing in windows across the country. Flags bore one blue star to represent each family member serving in the U.S. military.

The flag was a carryover from the First World War. Its simple but potent design was created by Army Captain Robert L. Queissner, who had two sons on the front lines. The flag quickly became a kind of visual shorthand that communicated a family’s powerful and personal commitment to the war effort.

At right:  WWII posters frequently used service flags as a kind of visual shorthand in acknowledging the breadth of America’s shared sacrifice.

During World War II, the practice of displaying the service flag became even more widespread. Concurrently, in 1942, the Blue Star Mothers of America was founded as a veteran support organization. Their work was part of larger effort to send care packages to overseas servicemen. Blue Star Mothers also provided assistance to families that encountered hardships resulting from a son or husband’s war-related absence.

Before the end of the war, it seemed that a banner hung in the front window of virtually every other home in America. Some banners displayed as many as four, five, or even six blue stars, indicating the number of family members serving in the Armed Forces. Parents and siblings took great pride in these overt displays of patriotic duty. Conversely, it was a sad occasion when a blue star had to be covered over with a gold star since it signified that a cherished loved one had made the ultimate sacrifice.

The flag became such a powerful symbol of patriotic duty and personal sacrifice that it was frequently incorporated into posters commissioned by the Office of War Information. “Help Bring Them Back to You! Make Yours a Victory Home” was the message of one such poster

Following the war, the banner’s use continued during the Korean War but went into an extended hiatus, rarely seeing use during the Vietnam conflict and the first Gulf War. However, the service flag has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity among the spouses and mothers of Americans serving in the present conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.


At left: WWII service flag with applied insignia and medals. Wright Museum Collection, 1997 gift of Raymond Johnson Jr.

The Wright Museum of WWII History is a one-of-a-kind non-profit institution dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of America’s Greatest Generation. With its vast collection of fully-operational military vehicles and extensive exhibits relating to the American Home Front, the Wright Museum is a member-supported national treasure located in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire.

In the words of Senator Bob Dole, “The Wright Museum tells the story of [a] great national achievement, a story that, more than ever, today’s generation of Americans—and especially our young people—need to understand and appreciate.”

The Wright Museum is a non-profit institution devoted to educating learners of all ages. With its nationally-significant collection of fully-operational military vehicles and vast collections relating to the American Home Front, the Wright Museum is a member-supported national treasure located right here in New Hampshire.


To learn more, call the museum at 603-569-1212 or send an e-mail to info@wrightmuseum.org.