In the front window of Duane Sprague’s Pontiac home hangs a lone blue star to honor his grandson, who’s bravely serving in the war to defend America against terrorism and liberate Iraq from tyranny.
“He won’t turn back. He’ll be there until it’s done. And if he has to stay, he’ll stay,” said the 74-year-old World War II and Korean War veteran of his 22-year-old grandson, U.S. Marine Corporal Ryan Moore.
Moore, a Lake Orion High School graduate, is serving in the 2nd Maintenance Battalion.
The Blue Star that hangs in Sprague’s window is a symbol of pride, hope, remembrance and honor provided by American Legion Walter Fraser Post 108 in Oxford.
Spraque is an active member and past commander of Post 108.
Post 108 is distributing the Blue Star Service banners ? or “Son in Service” flags ? free of charge to post members and anyone within the Oxford school district who has an immediate family member actively serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, according to Walt Joslin, post member and past commander.
Joslin said the Blue Stars serve as visible reminders of the sacrifices others are making in the nation’s defense.
“A lot of people don’t realize how many people in their community are serving until they see it,” he said.
For the families of servicemen and women, the Blue Star denotes a “sense of pride, particularly in trying times like this.”
The U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday voted 418 to 0 to adopt a resolution encouraging service member’s families to display Blue Star Service banners in their windows and outside their homes.
The Blue Star Service banner’s origin dates back to 1917 when it was designed by U.S. Army Captain Robert L. Queissner of the 5th Ohio Infantry to honor his two sons fighting on the front line in World War I.
The banner quickly became the unofficial symbol for a child in military service.
It wasn’t until World War II that the federal government officially recognized the flag and the Department of War issued specifications and guidelines as to how the banner should be manufactured and displayed.
The 8*-inch by 14-inch banner features a blue star on a white background surrounded by a red border. It’s meant to be hung in the front window of a home.
Banners with two, three and four blue stars are also available to denote multiple family members serving in the military. If a service member is killed in the line of duty, the blue star is replaced with a gold star.
“Thankfully we haven’t had any gold stars (in the Oxford area),” Joslin said as he clasped his hands and looked upward.
The banners were not as popular in subsequent wars, however, the American Legion decided to revive the tradition at it’s August 2001 national convention.
The Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and subsequent War on Terror that began in Afghanistan and is now being waged in Iraq fueled demand for the Blue Star Service banners.
Since the end of 2001, the American Legion has sold 148,814 banners nationwide. Joslin said Post 108 has given away between 30 and 40 banners.
To obtain a Blue Star Service banner call Post 108 at (248) 628-9081.
Sprague’s Blue Star Service banner will continue to adorn his front window and give him comfort during the Iraqi war and continuing War on Terror.
In addition to being extremely proud of his grandson’s service to his country, Sprague said “like everbody else” he’s “nervous” too. “It makes you kind of nervous every time you look at the television,” he said. “You don’t know whether you should shut it off or see what’s happening. You’ve just got to wait and see.”