Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1918-11-20
The Use of Service Flags and
Who Is Entitled to Their

use.
To the many questions asked con-
eerning the service flags; the stars,
gold, silver and blue, and those en-
titled to their use, information has
been compiled, and sent out through
the courtesy of the woman's commit
tee, Council of Defense, Georgia div
ision.
The service flag, its origin, design
and proper display, has been dealt
with by an official bulletin issued re-
Gently by the government and COM
piled by Brigadier General Nathan
William MacChesney.
''The service flag" explains Gen
eral MacChesney, sis not an official
flag of the United States government,
but is recognized by the govern
ment."
The flag was patented and design
ed by R. L. Queisser, formerly cap
tain of the 145th division, United
States infantry, retired, because of
accident. Of the incident Captain
Queisser himself relates:
ssShortly 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
wondered if 1 could not evolve some
sign or symbol by which it might be
known that they were away in their
country's service, and one which
would be to their mother visible
sign of the sacrifice here sons were
making. The inspiration of the service
flag came to me in that manner"
The city council of Cleveland sub
sequently adopted the flag, present
ing 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 quality of the flag might be prop
erly controlled and to keep it out of
the hands of irresponsible parties.
One-half of his royalties from the
sale of the textile flags is given to
the American Red Cross.
The Purpose.
The basic idea of the service flag
is that there shall be a star to repre-
sent each person serving with the CO.
ors.
According to the congressional
enactment, the terms "man" and EN-
listed man" means "person," whether
male or female, whether enlisted, en-
rolled or drafted into active service
in the military or naval forces of the
United States, and include non-com-
missioned and petty officers, and mem
bers 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; all officers and enlisted men OF
the national guard and national guard
reserve recognized by the militia bu-
reau of the war department; all fore
es raised under the act entitled, AN
act to authorize the president to in
crease temporarily the military es-
tablishments of the United States,
approved May Is, 1917 (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 reserve
militia, naval reserve force, marine
corps reserve and national naval vol
unteers recognized by the navy de-
partment; all officers of the public
health service detailed by the secre-
tary of the treasury for duty with the
army or navy;an of the personnel
of the lighthouse service and OF the
coast and geodetic survey transferred
by the president to the service and
Jurisdiction of the war department
or the navy department; members OF
the nurse corps, army field clerks,
field clerks quartermaster corps, CIV
ilian clerks and employees on duty
with the military forces detailed for
service abroad in accordance with the
provisions of existing law; and mem
bers of any other body who have here
tofore or may hereafter become
part of the military or naval forces
of the United States.
Women Recognized.
Pertaining to women and the serv-
ice flags, General MacChesney's bull
letin states that a woman in active
service in any department of militia
.o,,,;,, ic on+i+lod to rnnresenta-