[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 109 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 109

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the Blue Star Banner and 
                             the Gold Star.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 20, 2003

 Mr. Shadegg (for himself, Mr. Gibbons, Mr. Bartlett of Maryland, Mr. 
 Barrett of South Carolina, Mr. Taylor of North Carolina, Mr. Gillmor, 
Mr. Akin, Mr. McNulty, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Otter, Mr. Gutknecht, Ms. Hart, 
Mr. Sessions, Mrs. Myrick, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Hoekstra, 
   Mr. Manzullo, Mr. Pickering, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, Mr. Jones of North 
Carolina, Mr. Towns, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Franks of Arizona, 
Ms. Dunn, Mr. Moran of Kansas, Mr. Flake, Mr. Shays, Mr. Gilchrest, and 
  Mr. Renzi) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the Blue Star Banner and 
                             the Gold Star.

Whereas the Blue Star Banner was patented and designed in 1917, during the 
        height of the First World War, by Army Captain Robert L. Queissner of 
        the 5th Ohio Infantry, who had two sons serving on the front lines;
Whereas the banner quickly became the symbol for a family member serving the 
        Nation and families began proudly displaying these banners in their 
        front windows during the First World War;
Whereas each Blue Star on the banner represents a family member serving in the 
        Armed Services and symbolizes hope and pride;
Whereas beginning in 1918, the Blue Star would signify the living, and a smaller 
        Gold Star would be placed on top of the Blue Star, forming a blue 
        border, if the family member was killed or died while on active duty, to 
        symbolize his or her sacrifice for the cause of freedom;
Whereas the placement of a Gold Star on top of a Blue Star recognizes that those 
        who served together and came home, as well as their families, will 
        always remember the sacrifice of those who died and honor their 
        families;
Whereas the banners were displayed widely during the Second World War;
Whereas many of the banners displayed during the First and Second World Wars 
        were hand-made by the mothers of those serving in the Armed Forces;
Whereas the legacy of the banner continued during the Korean, Vietnam, and 
        Persian Gulf Wars and other periods of conflict, as well as in times of 
        peace;
Whereas the Blue Star Banner is the official banner authorized by law to be 
        displayed in honor of a family member serving the United States, while 
        the Gold Star may be displayed in honor of a family member who has made 
        the ultimate sacrifice for the Nation;
Whereas for over 85 years, families have proudly displayed the Blue Star Banner 
        showing service men and women the honor and pride that is taken in their 
        sacrifices for freedom;
Whereas the banner may be displayed by members of the immediate family of a 
        loved one serving in the Armed Forces, including active duty service in 
        a unit of the National Guard, Merchant Marine, or the Reserves;
Whereas the banner may be flown by families with a service member stationed 
        either domestically or overseas;
Whereas the display of the banner in the front window of a home shows a family's 
        pride in their loved one and is a reminder that preserving America's 
        freedom demands great sacrifice; and
Whereas this reminder is especially timely during the current conflict with Iraq 
        and the war on terrorism: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) calls on all Americans to honor the men and women of 
        the United States Armed Forces and their families;
            (2) honors the men and women of the United States Armed 
        Forces and their families;
            (3) encourages these families to proudly display the Blue 
        Star Banner or, if their loved one has made the ultimate 
        sacrifice, the Gold Star; and
            (4) calls on the media to recognize the importance of the 
        Blue Star Banner and its symbolism of the devotion and service 
        of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.
    Sec. 2. The authority on which this resolution rests is the 
authority of Congress to make all laws which shall be necessary and 
proper as provided in Article I, section 8 of the United States 
Constitution.
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