IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 109
Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the Blue Star Banner and 
the Gold Star. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 20, 2003
Mr. SHADEGG (for himself, Mr. GIBBONS, Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland, Mr. 
BARRETT of South Carolina, Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina, Mr. 
GILLMOR, Mr. AKIN, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. ISAKSON, Mr. OTTER, Mr. 
GUTKNECHT, Ms. HART, Mr. SESSIONS, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. WILSON of 
South Carolina, Mr. HOEKSTRA, Mr. MANZULLO, Mr. PICKERING, Mr. 
RYAN of Ohio, Mr. JONES of North Carolina, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. GRIJALVA, 
Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Ms. DUNN, Mr. MORAN of Kan-
sas, Mr. FLAKE, Mr. SHAYS, Mr. GILCHREST, and Mr. RENZI) submitted 
the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Armed Services 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the Blue 
Star Banner and the Gold Star.
Whereas the Blue Star Banner was patented and designed in 
1917, during the height of the First World War, by 
Army Captain Robert L. Queissner of the 5th Ohio In-
fantry, who had two sons serving on the front lines; 
Whereas the banner quickly became the symbol for a family 
member serving the Nation and families began proudly 
displaying these banners in their front windows during 
the First World War;
•HCON 109 IH 
Whereas each Blue Star on the banner represents a family 
member serving in the Armed Services and symbolizes 
hope and pride; 
Whereas beginning in 1918, the Blue Star would signify the 
living, and a smaller Gold Star would be placed on top 
of the Blue Star, forming a blue border, if the family 
member was killed or died while on active duty, to sym-
bolize his or her sacrifice for the cause of freedom; 
Whereas the placement of a Gold Star on top of a Blue Star 
recognizes that those who served together and came 
home, as well as their families, will always remember the 
sacrifice of those who died and honor their families; 
Whereas the banners were displayed widely during the Sec-
ond World War; 
Whereas many of the banners displayed during the First and 
Second World Wars were hand-made by the mothers of 
those serving in the Armed Forces; 
Whereas the legacy of the banner continued during the Ko-
rean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf Wars and other periods 
of conflict, as well as in times of peace; 
Whereas the Blue Star Banner is the official banner author-
ized by law to be displayed in honor of a family member 
serving the United States, while the Gold Star may be 
displayed in honor of a family member who has made the 
ultimate sacrifice for the Nation; 
Whereas for over 85 years, families have proudly displayed 
the Blue Star Banner showing service men and women 
the honor and pride that is taken in their sacrifices for 
freedom; 
Whereas the banner may be displayed by members of the im-
mediate family of a loved one serving in the Armed
•HCON 109 IH 
Forces, including active duty service in a unit of the Na-
tional Guard, Merchant Marine, or the Reserves; 
Whereas the banner may be flown by families with a service 
member stationed either domestically or overseas; 
Whereas the display of the banner in the front window of a 
home shows a family’s pride in their loved one and is a 
reminder that preserving America’s freedom demands 
great sacrifice; and 
Whereas this reminder is especially timely during the current 
conflict with Iraq and the war on terrorism: Now, there-
fore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That the Congress—
(1) calls on all Americans to honor the men and 
women of the United States Armed Forces and their 
families; 
(2) honors the men and women of the United 
States Armed Forces and their families; 
(3) encourages these families to proudly display 
the Blue Star Banner or, if their loved one has made 
the ultimate sacrifice, the Gold Star; and 
(4) calls on the media to recognize the impor-
tance of the Blue Star Banner and its symbolism of 
the devotion and service of the men and women of 
the United States Armed Forces. 
SEC. 2. The authority on which this resolution rests 
is the authority of Congress to make all laws which shall
•HCON 109 IH 
be necessary and proper as provided in Article I, section 
8 of the United States Constitution.
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