Blue Star Mothers
World War I was often called The War to end all Wars. Had this proven true, Gold Star Mothers would have continued to grieve their loss, but there would have been no more Blue Star Mothers. Instead, World War I was followed by World War II.
Sixteen million American men and women served in the United States military in Europe, the Pacific, at home in support of the war, and other regions of the world. One month after the attack on Pearl Harbor, on January 22, 1942, Army Captain George H. Maines printed an article in a Flint, Michigan newspaper requesting information about children serving in the armed forces. On March 8, 1942 more than 600 mothers organized the BLUE STAR MOTHERS OF AMERICA, INC. Quickly, chapters formed around the Nation, and the blue star flags of World War I reappearing in the windows of American homes once again. It was not at all unusual for a window to display more than one flag (or a single flag with multiple stars), for a star was displayed for each son or daughter in service. Indeed the big house at 98 Adams Street in Waterloo, Iowa displayed FIVE Blue Star for the five sons of Tom and Alleta Sullivan who had joined the Navy together to serve on the USS Juneau.
The BLUE STAR FLAG again became a symbol of love, pride, hope and grave concern. It also became a symbol of what Americans at home could do to increase a mother's chance of seeing her son's safe return: rationing, working in factories building needed materials, and even reminding all at home that "loose lips sink ships". The Blue Star Flag, often quickly visible from the windows of many houses up and down any given street in America, symbolized a pride in the commitment of America's youth and a reminder of the gravity of the entire war effort.
Blue Star Mothers also dedicated themselves to personal efforts, creating and mailing the care packages that mean so much to a soldier away from home, working with or supporting U.S.O. programs to build the morale of their loved ones abroad, and even visitation and care for returning wounded soldiers in area hospitals.
Indeed, the blue star was as much a symbol of pride as it was
a show of concern, but the tragedy was that each blue star had an all too
strong a potential to change its color. As the war continued, it was an almost
daily occurrence to see a black sedan drive slowly down a Blue Star lined
street, pull to the curb at a house, and bring a mother the news she had dreaded
hearing.
During World War II it was not uncommon to see one or more of each color star
in a living room window. Incredibly, the tragedy of one blue star turning
gold, could not keep a brother from answering the call to duty. In January
1944 the five Blue Stars in the home of Tom and Alleta Sullivan....were ALL
replaced with Gold Stars.
Since World War II
Though the War Mothers Flag has continued to fly over the Capitol every Veterans Day, the practice of the Blue Star and Gold Star Flag displayed in the windows of American homes during time of war did not see wide-spread recognition during the Korean War or the Vietnam War. Combined however, those two wars resulted in more than 100,000 Gold Star Mothers or widows being added to the ranks of the grieving, and while membership in both organizations today is quite low, there are current members from even Desert Storm.
The BLUE STAR FLAG is a wonderful American tradition to revive. We only pray that there will be no need for a GOLD STAR FLAG.