Image: sxc.hu

I found one in my grandmother’s memorabilia trunk.  It represented her son, my Uncle Charles, who served in that war and came back alive.  These flags, a blue star on white background surrounded by a red border hung in the windows of families who had a member fighting for our country’s freedom.  (More stars if more than one person was in the war.)

If the soldier was killed in war, a gold star was hung above the blue and if injured a silver star instead.  Thus also originated the term “Gold Star Mothers” who lost a son or daughter in the war.

Supposedly Army Captain Robert Queisser, of the 5th Ohio Infantry, designed a service flag to honor his two sons who were serving in the military during World War I.  These flags symbolize brave men and women in all our wars.

Nowadays, they’re made as flags, banners, pillows and quilts, to keep in mind the military men and women serving to keep us free.

Post from: Blisstree

Learning About Patriotic Service Flags

When I was a youngster, veterans’ service to our country was well recognized and not criticized as we appreciated being free.  I lived during the years of World War II and knew about black-outs, bomb scares, rationing, scarcity of food, aluminum drives and everyone working together to support the military.

Image: sxc.hu

Then Memorial Day (often called Decoration Day, when we decorated the graves of the fallen military or those who had served and died later) was a time to recognize their sacrifices.

We hung the large flag from our front porch. I still have photos of our family standing in front of it with my uncle who has served in an even earlier war, World War I.

Crafters today often make items with patriotic colors and themes.  My daughter has a number of these she places around the house.  What do you make for patriotic celebrations and family gatherings?

Post from: Blisstree

Memorial Day Celebration & Patriotic Crafts

Remembering 9/11 occurred across the country today. 

 At the school where I was substitute teaching, the students and faculty gathered at the flag pole in front of the building.  Police and firemen from the community, along with other citizens joined them for a short talk, pledge of allegiance, and to sing “This Land is Your Land.”

On 9/11/01, I also was substitute teaching, in first grade that day, when the principal stopped by my room and handed me a note, mentioning what was happening and that the television in the teacher’s room was on.  Until we knew more, we weren’t to alarm the students.

Since than we have comforted, found comfort, remembered, reminisced, and wondered “Why?”  Friends and relatives have gone abroad to defend our country and to keep terrorism at bay.

What do we say to our children, when they ask, like my grandson did tonight at the supper table, “What was 9/11?  Why did we have the ceremony at school today?”

Then we realize that he was too young to grasp the what was going on as we watched the television for more than a week, waited for names of people we knew and loved, wondered if there would be another attack soon.

It was a day that changed much in our country…and the world.

(Amazon images; click for DVD details)

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

9/11 – A Day of Remembrance & Patriotism

 This is a large flag given to our family when my Uncle Al died.  He was a World War II veteran who served in the Pacific Theater.  The flag was draped over his casket at his funeral.  Three veterans attended and presented the flag to my mom, Al’s sister, at the cemetery. 

(I’ve written a story, published in two anthologies, about this flag and it’s meaning to our family.)

As I’ve researched my family history, I discovered I have ancestors who served in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, World War I and World War II.  My husband was an Air Force pilot during the Vietnam era. 

Today our granddaughter marches in the local parade, playing a trumpet in the high school band…and we fly “Uncle Al’s Flag.”

Post from: Blisstree

Commemorating Memorial Day in our Quilting World