The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-09-27
SERVICE
FLAG IS Defined.
General McChesney Tells Who
Are. Entitled To Stars On It;
Regulations Are Semi Official
BY ERNEST q. WALKER
(Mail Special 70 Tho Advertiser }

Questions about the use of service
flags pour in upon the war department.
These flags, although entirely unofi
tial, have become very prevalent
throughout the land. Their use has
taught the popular fancy. Even war
department officials, wont to set their
faces steraly against novelties, rec
,gnize the splendid sentiment and alike
he propriety Of these embIems
In the very nature OF things the ser
| ice flags are unlikely to be made of
fetal. Around them, however, is rap.
!dly growing UP body Of semi-official
! equations. These have been promul
( gated I'M semi Official form and, mp.
psrently, are being quite generally OBJ.
aerved. People In hundreds II tRDd.
tands Of households, whence have gone
persons to engage in the military and
iaval services, not only hi; 1ge the flags
from their windows but many fly the
| flags from their automobiles. The de-
IRE to do these things according to
form undoubtedly prompts the many
Inquiries TO the war department. ".
"Will you be kind enough to give me
| ! little information runs one 0f these
.ecent letters. "Am entitled to wear
4 three-star service pin, having son,
brother, and son-in-law in the servicef
Also, how many stars could put on a
service flag on my houseP
| Most questions like this are answer
ed quite comprehensively in a paper
by Brig Gen. William MacCbemey, for
merly of the Illinois National Guard,
who has been serving as a lieutenant
colonel judge advocate, National Army,
at Chicago headquarters. Efforts were
made to give his pamphlet wide cir
"uIation and the official Bulletin at
Washington published the text in full
! couple Of months ago. But this pub
licity has by no means reached into all
he households that are interested in the
service flag and entitled to have one.
! Who Is Included
General MacChesney suggests that
he basir idea Of the service flag is
here shall be a star to represent each
0erson serving with the colors and that
'he best guide as to what persons shall
We entitled to this honor ''is the legis-
alton enacted by congress for the bene-
1t of those in the military sPrvice.'
n includes any person, whether male
ad nr drafted into active service in the
| military or naval forces of the United
states This covers non cOmmis ssion.
Cd and petty officers and mNmhers Of
training camps authorized bv law. Of
fcers and mrn Of the Coast Guard. Nav
al Reserves. Coast and GeOdetic Survey,
and Public Health Srrvire pre al en-
titled to representation on service flags
Il 30; ;I,I fnN I,,tN Nil ~
armv or the navy
Members Of the rmrse enrns, army
field clerks. civilipn clr~Es and emplov.
% on duty with the militHrv forces de-
tailed for service abroad are generally
"cgarlhd aa entitled to representation
on service flags. This covers cnmplCt"
recognition of wnmen. hut is not cal
rulated to include Prrs""e in reserve
eOrces until they are called into and
enter upon active duty. 1t does not in
rlude state forces, such ns members Of
no national quad not fClcraliZed.
Stars For Students
Apparently students in srhon's aud
.oIlcnes under the r"r"nt am"nAmPnt
to the draft law will be entitled to
Htars unon the service flags in their
homes. but only when thew have taken
! the Ontn OF pnllStmfnI ANN DttH 'dilFIl
TO active duty The consensus Of opin-
ion appears TO he against allowing the
, Star fur service with tho Y. NJ. G.
x. G. Jewish welfare Board and aid
SorietiPs While there rs NO purpose to
discount the splendid work these or
carnations are doing General Mac
"hcSrov saws "surh representation
y wouId he contrary to the sririt and
nurnosc of the SERVED flag, which wa
designed to be and hns been accepted
by the people of this country as n
" mrnns Of showing our HOMAGE to those
=, who have entered the military and
naval service in this crisis.
Whcn flown frnm home a husband
ON, father or brother NAV properly be
-pnresrrtrd on the service flag. saws
General MaPt thPsncv, oven thoU"h he
lid not actually leave from that house
= hold directly to 60 into the service
1 wit in case Of anv more distant re'a
j tivrs they should actually he memh"rS
" the honschould whore the flag is dis
plnved and have left for the service
4. directly from such household. DomNat'
!. employees, roOmers, or bOarders should
/ not be represented.
v Fla0s For Clubs
=. When flown by rluh or "the' so
d riety ONLY those who are actually Nom
Ia hers active or honorary of such "luF
j. or society should he represented Star
J. should not be nlared thereon for hus
10 bands. sons fathers or brothers or 9th
q. cr relatives or members merely b"
rarse Of such relationship. Schools a"'
colleges INV p"on"r'V rPpresent truS
tees. members Of the fnrulty, graduate
and uRdermrnhuatPs.
D The war denartmert NJ 6rst frN~nP'
a u"nn use Of the service flag and re
q fnsod to make it Official wh""""nNn tn
y inventor Capt r. l.. Ome'Sser. q
10 Cleveland. Ohio ohtoiu"h n"teUt T.
=. cont~ol p""rerlv tho dist"'Nut'nn an
u , "alitv Of the nrol""'. He 's re"re
10 sortrI nq hAvi~" "iv"n owe h"lf Nh
y, . - - tL.. z -.