Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-01-25
USE OF FLAGS
AND EMBLEMS +.
IS EXPLAINED
Official Regulations Govern
ing Use of Flags, Rolls of
Honor and Uniforms.

washington, Jan. Go.-MaJOf NJ
than William MacChesney. depa.i-
ment judge advocate, central depart
ment, Chicago, has transmitted the
following memorandum:
There have beer a large number of
inquiries at this office with reference
to service flags, rolls of honor, uni
forms, ETC.. and for general informa-
ton to answer such questions the fol-
lowing has been prepared:
Service Flags.
The-service flag, while not officially
adopted, is authorized and officially
recognized, and everyone who is en-
titled to fly it Is encouraged and urged
to do so.
The idea Of the service flag is that
there shall be a star to represent each
person from the family, place of
business. club, or other entity serv-
ing with the colors. There has recent
ly been some indication that this is
being abused. Where the service flag
is hung in the window Of a home it
should represent only members of the
family from such immediate house
hold and not employees, domestic or
otherwise. Where it is hung from a
place of business it should represent
employees going from such place of
business, n where presumably, some
continuous relation exists and there is
an expectation of return to the en-
ployment. The service flag should not
be flown by buildings, hotels. ETC.,
where the only relation is hat of ten
ants, ETC., but only where there is
some closer relation as indicated
above.
Attention has been called to 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 civilian
capacities. However patriotic h mo
tives of these persons nay be they
are not entitled to be represented by
the service flag. and such use is an
abuse of it. The essence of military
service is that persons who wear the
uniform subject themselves to be Or
dered anywhere without the right to
refuse to go. Such conditions do not
attach to any Of the various war
boards, commissions. civilian employ
ments, ETC., and under no circum-
stances should the persons in such
employments be represented on serv-
ice flags.
Rolls Of Honor.
The roll of honor is intended
primarily to contain the names of all
those persons who have gone into
service and may be subdivided under
the various branches of the service,
such as Army. Navy. Marine Corps.
etc. The highest roll of honor. of
course, will consist of those who have
given their lives in the service.
1t has been noticed that the names
of persons indicated above have been
Iindiscriminately placed on such rolls
of honor in some instances when serv-
ing in civilian capacities as on the
various war boards. Y. NJ. c. A. work
etc. This should not be done. II
such persons are to be carried at AL
upon the roll of honor, they should he
carried under a separate list. wholly
distinct from those serving with tine
ly and either under the genera!
phrase with the colors" or under
! their particular branch Of the service
as indicated above. IF it is desired tc
show the others on the roll of honor
they should be on a separate list. as
Sin the government service" If such
is the fact, or if not. then under the
particular work in which they are EN-
gagged, but distinct from those sub
ject to military orders.
Uniforms.
The essence of military service, as
above stated, is subsection of Oneself
to orders to go anywhere during the
period of the war without the right
TO refuse. Any one who has placed
himself under such orders is entltleC
to credit for service with the colors
aud to wear the uniform. However
worthy the work may he. anyone else
is not. and the constant attempt tt
initiate the uniform Of the army OF
the United States by persons doins
work helpful in the war. but which
Goes not subject them to military or
ders, should not only he deprecated
but is contrary to the law, which for
bids the use Of any uniform any par
of which is similar to any distinctive
part Of the uniform Of the United
States army. This would include any
of the i%nsignia, and has been held by
some Of the authorities to include the
khaki color. Surely. no one who de
sires only ZONES credit for what he is
doing. would desire to deprive those
subject to military orders of the credit
which should go to them because OF
that fact.