III 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 109
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
APRIL 2, 2003
Received and referred to the Committee on Armed Services 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the Blue 
Star Flag and the Gold Star.
Whereas the Blue Star Flag (commonly referred to as the 
‘‘Blue Star Banner’’) was patented and designed in 1917, 
during the height of the World War I, by Army Captain 
Robert L. Queissner of the 5th Ohio Infantry, who had 
two sons serving on the front lines; 
Whereas the Blue Star Flag quickly became the symbol for 
a family member serving the Nation in the Armed
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Forces, and families began proudly displaying these flags 
in their front windows during World War I;
Whereas each Blue Star on the flag represents a family mem-
ber serving in the Armed Forces 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 the family member’s sacrifice for the cause of free-
dom; 
Whereas Blue Star Flags were displayed widely during World 
War II; 
Whereas many of the flags displayed during those wars were 
hand-made by the mothers of those serving in the Armed 
Forces; 
Whereas the legacy of the Blue Star Flag continued during 
the Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf Wars and other 
periods of conflict, as well as in times of peace; 
Whereas the Blue Star Flag is the official flag authorized by 
law, at section 901 of title 36, United States Code, to be 
displayed in honor of a family member serving the United 
States on active duty in the Armed Forces during a pe-
riod of war or hostilities, while the Gold Star may be dis-
played 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 Flag showing United States service per-
sonnel the honor and pride that is taken in their sac-
rifices for freedom;
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Whereas the flag may be displayed by members of the imme-
diate family of a loved one serving in the Armed Forces; 
Whereas the flag may be flown by families with a service 
member stationed either domestically or overseas; 
Whereas the display of the flag 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 such a reminder is especially timely during the cur-
rent conflict with Iraq and the global war on terrorism: 
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That the Congress—
(1) honors members of the United States 
Armed Forces and their families; 
(2) calls on all Americans to honor the mem-
bers of the United States Armed Forces and their 
families, to recognize the importance of the Blue 
Star Flag and the Gold Star and their symbolism of 
the devotion and service of the members of the 
United States Armed Forces, and to advance aware-
ness of the Blue Star Flag and the Gold Star 
through all appropriate information and media chan-
nels; and 
(3) encourages the families of members of the 
Armed Forces to proudly display the Blue Star Flag
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or, if their loved one has made the ultimate sacrifice, 
the Gold Star. 
SEC. 2. The authority on which this resolution rests 
is the authority of Congress to make all laws which shall 
be necessary and proper as provided in Article I, section 
8 of the United States Constitution. 
Passed the House of Representatives April 1, 2003. 
Attest: 
JEFF TRANDAHL, 
Clerk.