What is this flag?

October 9, 2006 12:29 PM

What is this flag?

My neighbors have a small flag hanging in the window. I tried searching through some country flag databases but could not find this design. It is a red border on a white background with a centered green star. There are also small, yellow, triangular "tassels" hanging on each side of the flag. I cannot recall how many points the green star has. Apologies for the crude drawing.



Thanks in advance hive-mind!

posted by dendrite to Society & Culture (11 answers total)

Best answer: It means that they have a child serving overseas in a war.

They are a "Blue Star Family". If the Child dies they become a "Gold Star Family"
posted by Megafly at 12:35 PM on October 9, 2006

Best answer: Maybe it's a Service Star. The star was blue in WWI and II, maybe the green is for Iraq? Or maybe a prisoner of Ask Metafilter?
posted by sohcahtoa at 12:37 PM on October 9, 2006

Here's some flags for sale that look just like your drawing.
posted by exogenous at 12:42 PM on October 9, 2006

Slight digression:

There is a street in my town (Somerville, MA) named "Gold Star Road". It's about two blocks long, and nine families on this street lost sons during WWII- hence the name. I had heard the story, but never seen the flags, so thanks for the answers!
posted by bobot at 1:37 PM on October 9, 2006 [1 favorite]

Yup, looks like a 'Blue Star Family" to me.
posted by unixrat at 1:40 PM on October 9, 2006

Normal Rockwell had them in a few paintings. This one, for starters...
posted by unixrat at 1:43 PM on October 9, 2006

Also this one, which was the one that I was originally thinking about. Note the 'three-star' family in one of the other windows.
posted by unixrat at 1:46 PM on October 9, 2006

Response by poster: Followup question: Does it have to be a child specifically serving, or could it be a sibling? We live in graduate student housing and the residents are probably not old enough to have a child overseas...siblings would seem more likely.

Thanks to all for the answers and anecdotes!
posted by dendrite at 2:08 PM on October 9, 2006

There is a street in my town (Somerville, MA) named "Gold Star Road".

Similarly, in 2001, the Maine Turnpike was dedicated as "The Gold Star Memorial Highway", and at several points along the road, this flag is displayed as a large road sign marking the dedication.
posted by briank at 2:28 PM on October 9, 2006

Best answer: I never heard of a green star flag. I have my grandmother's (blue star) service flag from WWII. I got it out and hung it in the window when my son went to Iraq.

There is a federal law that designates who may display, and manufacture, service flags:

TITLE 36 > Subtitle I > Part A > CHAPTER 9 > § 901

§ 901. Service flag and service lapel button

(a) Individuals Entitled To Display Service Flag.— A service flag approved by the Secretary of Defense may be displayed in a window of the place of residence of individuals who are members of the immediate family of an individual 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 are engaged.

(b) Individuals Entitled To Display Service Lapel Button.— A service lapel button approved by the Secretary may be worn by members of the immediate family of an individual 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 are engaged.

(c) License To Manufacture and Sell Service Flags and Service Lapel Buttons.— Any person may apply to the Secretary for a license to manufacture and sell the approved service flag, or the approved service lapel button, or both. Any person that manufactures a service flag or service lapel button without having first obtained a license, or otherwise violates this section is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $1,000.

(d) Regulations.— The Secretary may prescribe regulations necessary to carry out this section.

Here is a DOD fact sheet which gives more information:

"Members of the immediate family" include wife, husband, mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, parent through adoption, foster parents who stand or stood in loco parentis, children, stepchildren, children through adoption, bothers, sisters, half brothers, and half sisters of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States.
posted by taosbat at 5:27 PM on October 9, 2006

Also, this Norman Rockwell, where the guy had three sons serving, so three stars. (Temporary EBay link)
posted by beagle at 6:04 PM on October 9, 2006