Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-13
DISPLAY SERVICE FLAGS
TILL FIXED DATE, URGED
War Camp Community Board
Suggests Demobilization on
Washington's Birthday

Don't take down your service flags yet.
and don't keep them up until they gradually
disappear weather beaten, ta'tered and un-
noticed. This Is the plea Of the War Camp
Community Service. which does not believe
that these embems of all our hopes and
fears during our nineteen trying months Of
war should be laid aside without fitting
ceremonies
Instead, OF taking down the flags one by
one as fast as the boys are mustered out or
the stars have turned to gold, the War
Camp Community Service urges that their
proud possessors should keep them exhibited
until fixed date when they can be demobi-
lized at a public ceremony.
The service flag has been the one central
emblem that has represented the sons. the
brothers, the fathers and the swee' hearts OF
those who have remained behind. II has
appeared everywhere throughout the country
as a great sign OF reverence. an emblem of
pride and hope. Great mansions and iso-
lated little huts have displayed It alike. and
har has waved to flag from she humblest
milk wagon or peddlers cart to the most
gorgeous limousines.
War Camp Community Service suggests
the period In which washingtons Birthday
falls as a fitting occasion for the first cere-
mony of the "dcmohilization of the service
flag" february 90 Is a national holiday.
and on Friday the 2lst the schools VIII oe
holding washington's birthday programs. on
office buildings. banks. industrial institu-
tions and fraternal orders might well also
have the exercises of the "demobilization of
the service flag" it is pointed out. on
sunday, the 23d, the churches should have
their demobilizations. II Is contended.
The service does not put this forth as a
vague suggestion. but has planned we'll
defined program for these three days. Serv-
Ice bars should he pinned (and later sewed)
across the stars which represent the boys
who have come home. For the facs with
stars which have turned to gold specially
designed permanent service flag, to be known
as Gold Glory" should be substituted. and
these should be kept on public exhibition as
long as the mind of man retains the mem
ory Of this most just of wars. The chief
feature Of the celebrations at which these
ceremonies take place should be community
singing.
The following program could be arranged,
| it is said, II the Mayors of cities and dow
ernors of States and President Wilson him
| self. back from planning tto great peace.
| would include in their Washingtons Birth.
! day proclamations n plea for its fvhllment:
The singing of America :" ten minutes OF
| community singing: ten-minute address by a
| civilian; ten-minute response by n service
| man. solo ten more minutes OF community
singing fifteen seconds of silent tribute &c
the men who have fallen: rehabilitation OF
| the service flag stars for those men who
| have been mustered out prayer: community
| singing, ending with Home, Sweet Home
| and the star Spangled Banner"
| Only those stars should be demobilizet
| which represent either death discharge
| from the service. In the former case "Golt
| Glorics" should he hung IN place for per
! manent exhibition These rehabilitation
| ceremonies should be repeated several time:
| during the year. Until our army is de-
| mobilized, it is said. there should be a
| intervals Of several months service nal
rehabilitation" at block parties, churches
, office buildings, department stores. fraterna
orders high schools colleges. small com
munities and at every place where ther,
| is a service flag.