Patriotic Service Flag Quilts
July 3, 2009 by Mary Emma Allen
Filed under Home & Living
Quilts inspired by the Service Flags of World War I have become popular during the present wars in Afghanistan and Iraq…to send to the service men and women and to remind those at home of their patriotic family members.
Image: sxc.hu
We have one of these Service Flags, originally made to hand in a window. My grandmother used it when her son Charles served in World War I. Consisting of a blue star on a white background, surrounded by red border, it let everyone know her son was serving for their freedom.
Uncle Charles came home from the War. However, if someone didn’t, a small gold star was added on top of the blue, thus the term “Gold Star Mothers” originated. Siver stars were used when a service member was injured.
I don’t know if my grandmother made her flag or if someone did and gave it to her. I’m proud that we still have it in our family. To me it represents Uncle Charles and other members who served – Uncle Al during World War II and my husand during the Vietnam war.
Today, quilters are making many variations of these banners and quilts. (An interesting article about Service Quilts appears in McCall’s America Loves Scrap Quilts, Spring 2008 issue.)
