Variation on a 1600 Quilt
#42
Gold Star (Moms) is an organization that's been around a while and they are gold stars because they lost a son, daughter, or spouse in a combat zone like Afghanistan or Iraq. We have a very active chapter here at Ft. Leavenworth, unfortunately. This organization dates at least from WWII and possibly even earlier.
#44
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#48
The "stars" suggestion brings up a tradition begun, I think, during WW I. Families hung a banner in a front window, often with a red border and a white field, with a blue star representing each serving family member. If the serviceman died, the blue star was covered with a gold one. The DOD had/has regulations about this and bars or pins worn representing men and women in service. White or silver stars (for example, a circle of 13) appliqued to your quilt would avoid association with the window banners. More about this can be found at: www.serviceflags.com
I'm not familiar with the history of this practice during the Korean "Conflict" but I do not remember seeing banners during the Viet Nam years--probably families did not want to be harassed.
One can feel the heartache and pride of hanging these displays and old movies can be seen depicting a neighborhood's reaction to seeing a gold star replacing the blue in the window of a home next-door.
I'm not familiar with the history of this practice during the Korean "Conflict" but I do not remember seeing banners during the Viet Nam years--probably families did not want to be harassed.
One can feel the heartache and pride of hanging these displays and old movies can be seen depicting a neighborhood's reaction to seeing a gold star replacing the blue in the window of a home next-door.
Last edited by Greenheron; 07-28-2013 at 02:23 PM.
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