Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-06-23
SilUer Stars on Service Flag for
Wounded; Gold Stars for the Dead

advocate, n. a, central department.
which gives the status, so TO speak,
OF the service flag and tells its prop
er use. and 1t has, therefore. to
quote Lieut.. Col TMacChesney, a
'semi-official place. 1t was Lieu.
tenant Colonel MacChesney who
recommended the us Of gold and sill
yer stars on the flag. He says:
THE present service flag ls owned
by private parties, who have patented
the same but is recognized by the
government and the flying of it is en-
couraged
TT has been decided that, on these
! flags, blue star shall represent
| those in the military or naval serv-
| Ice OF the United States. a silver star
! those wounded or invalided home
| from overseas, with a gold star super
imposed for those who die as the re-
suit Of such wounds or disease, ard
gold star alone for those killed in
action"
a short time ago Colonel MacChes-
ney received letter suggesting that
a service flag pin with a gold star
for the member of ones family killed
ing. He replied:
Considerable thought has been
given to this matter. In England the
wearing OF mourning has been dis
cauraged on the ground that IL has
depressing effect, though It Is gem
eral seen on the continent. 1t has
been finally decided, after confer
ence with those Interested In the sub
iect TO have those who have been
killed in action represented on tho
service flag with "A gold star and 10
use silver star to represent those
who have' been wounded or invalid
ed home, superimposing gold star
In the event Of death resulting from
such wound or disability. Your sug-
gestion, therefore, is In accordance
with the above and would seem TO
be an appropriate one"
Lieutenant Colonel MacChcsney's
first memorandum on the use Of
service flags was published in the
Official Bulletin January "a After
stating that the flag was authorized
and its use encouraged, though not
officially adopted, the memorandum
continued;
THE idea OF the service flag is
that there shall be a star 10 repre-
sent each person from the frffIily.
place of business, club, or other en-
tity' serving with the colors. There
recently has been some indication
that this is being abused. Where
the service flag is hung in the win
dow of home II should represent
only members OF the family from
such immediate household. end not
employees, domestic or otherwise
Where 1t is hung from a place Of
business it should represent en-
7loyes going from such place NJ busi-
ress, and where. presumably. some
continuous relation exists and there
is an expectation OF return to the
employment. The service flag should
not be flown by buildings, hoteis, etc,
where the only relation is that OF
tenants, etc, but only where there is
some dear relation. as indicated
above.
Attention has been called 10 the
fact that recently service flags have
been flown where the persons repre-
sented are not in fact serving with
the colors at all. but in various civil
Ian capacities. However patriotic the
motives 9f these persons may be,
they are not entitled to be repre-
sented by the service flag, ami such
use In an abuse Of it, TE1 essence
OF military service Is that persons
who wear the uniform subject them
selves TO be ordered anywhere
without the right to refuse TO ro.
such cogditions do not attach to any
of the vnriSs war boards, commits
a,t..EH -