The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-12-04
USE OF SERVICE FLAGS


USE OF SERVICE FLAGS
To the many questions asked con-
cerning the service flags; the stars,
gold, silver and blue, and those en-
titled to use these, information has
been compiled, and sent out through
the courtesy of the woman's commit
tee, Council of National Defense, the
Georgia division.
The service flag. it's origin, design
and proper display, has been dealt
with by an official bulletin issued re-
Gently by the government and compil-
ed by Brigadier General Nathan Will
liam MacChesney.
"The service flag" explains Gener,
al MacChesney, "is not an official flag
of the United States government, but
is recognized by the government"
The flag was patented and design
ed by H. L. Queisser, formerly cap
tain of the 145th division, United
States infantry, retired, because of
accident. Of the incident Captain
Quiesser himself relates:
Shortly after April 6, 1917, when
war with Germany was declared, the
thought came to me that both of my
sons would again be called out, and i
wondered if / could not evolve some
sign or symbol by which it might be
known that they were away in their
Icountry's service. and one which would
be to their mother visible sign of
the sacrifice her sons were making.
The inspiration of the service flag
came to me in htat manner"
The city council of Cleveland SUBJ
sequently adopted the flag, presenting
one to the family in that city of every
soldier and sailor entering the service.
Captain Queisser patented the flag in
order that the distribution and quail
ty of the flag might be properly con-
trolled and to keep it out of the hands
/ of irresponsible parties. One-half of
his royalties from the sale of the tex
tile flags is given to the American
Red Cross
The Purpose
| The basic idea of the service flag is
that there shall be star to represent
each person serving with the colors.
According to congressional enact
ment, the terms "man" and enlisted
man" means person." whether male
or female, whether enlisted, enrolled
OF drafted into active service in the
military or naval forces of the United
States, and include non-commissioned
and petty officers and members of
training camps authorized by law.
Those Eligible
Those entitled. to come under the
representation of the service flag are
described as: All officers and enlisted
men of the regular army, the regular
army reserve, the officers reserve
corps, and the enlisted reserve corps;
all officers and enlisted men of the
national guard and national guard re-
serve recognized by the militia bu-
reau of the war department.; all forces
raised under the act entitled, can act
to authorize the president to increase
temporarily the military establish
ment of the United States" approved
May 18. 1917 (the selective service
act); all officers and enlisted men OF
the navy, the marine corps and the
coast guard; all officers and enlisted
men of the naval militia, naval re-
serve force, marine corps reserve and
national naval volunteers recognized
by the navy department; all officers
of the public health service detailed
by the secretary of the treasury fol
duty with the army or the navy; any
of the personnel of the lighthouse ser.
vice and of the coast and geodetie
survey transferred by the president
to the service and jurisdiction of the
war department or the navy depart.
ment; members of the nurse corps
army field clerks, field clerks quarter.
master corps, civilian clerks and em.
ployees on duty with the military
forces detailed for service abroad in
accordance with the provisions of ex.
listing law; and members of any body
| who have heretofore or may hereaft
er become part of the military Oh
naval forces of the United States.
Women Recognized
Pertaining to women and the serv.
ice flag, Geenral MacChesney1s bulle.
tin states that woman in active ser.
vice in any department of military