[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 59 (Friday, April 11, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5394-S5395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE BLUE STAR SERVICE BANNER 
                           AND THE GOLD STAR

  Mr. SUNUNU. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 36, submitted 
earlier today by Senators Daschle, Frist, Hagel, Johnson, and Stevens.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the concurrent 
resolution by title.

[[Page S5395]]

  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 36) expressing the 
     sense of the Congress regarding the blue star service banner 
     and the gold star.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, today I join with my colleague, Senator 
Hagel, to urge adoption of a Senate concurrent resolution on behalf of 
our troops and their families. Specifically, the resolution encourages 
families of military personnel to display the Blue Star Service Banner, 
a tradition dating back to World War I. The Blue Star Service Banner 
indicates that a loved one is serving our country in the active duty 
military, and honors their devotion and sacrifice.
  The Blue Star Service Banner has its origins in World War I, when 
mothers of soldiers often sewed blue stars onto white flags by hand, in 
order to express their love, pride, and concern for their sons serving 
abroad. The practice was widespread throughout the two World Wars, 
coming to serve not only as a symbol of pride but also as a reminder to 
our Nation's citizens of their call to support the war effort. The 
flying flag urged civilians to remember their commitment to ration gas 
and food, to buy war bonds, or to work in the factories producing much-
needed materials, all in support of the brave men who were placing 
their lives on the line in defense of our country.
  Today, as a new generation of brave men and women faces grave 
personal risk on the front lines of Operation Iraqi Freedom and 
Operation Enduring Freedom, let us renew this time-honored tradition 
and again hoist flags in support of our troops. Let the families of 
these men and women display their love, pride, and concern for their 
loved ones, who have made such tremendous commitments to our country. 
And let these flags remind American citizens of the ways we can support 
our troops' efforts abroad: by expressing our gratitude, by making 
personal sacrifices through donations or volunteer efforts, and by 
continuing to demonstrate liberty and democracy to the world through 
vigorous debate and civic participation in the institutions that make 
our country great.
  Our Nation's active-duty military now consists of more than a million 
men and women, supported by even more families and households, and I 
introduce this bill today out of respect and solidarity with them all. 
In particular, I would like to pay tribute to my colleague from South 
Dakota, Senator Tim Johnson, who is Congress' only ``Blue Star 
Parent.'' As you might imagine, given our relationship, I am 
particularly well acquainted with this family and their son, Brooks, a 
sergeant in the Army's 101st Airborne Division, now engaged in 
Operation Iraqi Freedom. Thank you, Barbara and Tim Johnson, and thank 
you, Brooks, for your contribution to our nation's security.
  As images of the conflict in Iraq fill up our television screens and 
newspapers, many Americans feel helpless and distant, and we long for a 
way to support our troops. The Blue Star Service Banner allows military 
families to demonstrate their support, their pride, and their concern 
for the young men and women who serve our nation with such dedication. 
I urge you to support the passage of this important resolution and to 
join with me in calling upon the military families among your 
constituents to fly the Blue Star flag high and proudly.
  Mr. SUNUNU. I ask unanimous consent the concurrent resolution and 
preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motions to reconsider be laid on the 
table en bloc, and any statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 36) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 36

       Whereas the Blue Star Service 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 Service 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 Service 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 Senate (the House of Representatives 
     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 Service 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 Service 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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