1、 https:/crsreports.congress.gov Updated July 8, 2021Defense Primer: Gold Star DesignationBackground During the years of U.S. participation in World War I (WWI, 1917-1918), a service banner with a blue star was flown by some families to represent each family member in military service. The white fiel
2、d, edged with red, holds up to five stars. See Figure 1. A practice developed that when a servicemember was killed or died the blue star would be replaced with a gold one. The Department of Defense (DOD) policy regarding display of the gold star on the Service Flag is contained in DOD Instruction (D
3、ODI) 1348.36, Gold Star Lapel Button, Service Flag, and Service. The policy remains essentially unchanged, stating: “If the Service member symbolized is killed or dies from causes other than dishonorable, the star representing that individual will have a gold star of smaller size superimposed on it,
4、 so that the blue forms a border.” Figure 1. Blue and Gold Star Service Banners (Flags) Source: Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxiliary Programs at http:/ In a separate but related practice, President Woodrow Wilson approved a recommendation in May 1918 made by the Womens Committee of the Council f