Service Flags
Service flag donated by Gene Phillips. Belonged to Theodore and Gertrude Larson who's son, Wayne Larson, served in the U.S. Army during WWII.
A service flag or service banner is a flag that family members of those serving in the United States Armed Forces have proudly displayed for 100 years. The traditional service flag consists of a white field with a red border, with a blue star for each family member serving or a gold star for those that died while in service. The service flag was originally designed in 1917 by United States Army Captain Robert L. Queisser of the Fifth Ohio Infantry, in honor of his two sons who were serving in World War I. After which it was quickly adopted by the public and by government officials.
Service flags were very popular in Story City during WWI and continued to be during WWII. As early as February of 1942 our local American Legion Post was encouraging families in the community to display service flags to honor those who were serving. There was a two page spread in the April 23, 1942 edition of the Story City Herald which the editor called a "Community Service Flag". It included a list of all of the local men who were in service by that point and a map of the military training camps in the United States.
Service flags were very popular in Story City during WWI and continued to be during WWII. As early as February of 1942 our local American Legion Post was encouraging families in the community to display service flags to honor those who were serving. There was a two page spread in the April 23, 1942 edition of the Story City Herald which the editor called a "Community Service Flag". It included a list of all of the local men who were in service by that point and a map of the military training camps in the United States.
Story City Herald February 5, 1942
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Story City Herald April 23, 1942
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Local Churches
Most all of the local churches had large service flags honoring those from their congregation that were serving in the war. Usually a special service was held to dedicate the flags. Stars were added to the flags as more members of the congregation entered the service. Pleasant Grove Church held a service after the war to honor the returned servicemen from the congregation. During this service special thanks was given for a service flag of 28 stars, none of which had turned to gold.
Story City Herald June 24, 1943
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Elim Church Service Flag, 6' x 4' in size. The blue stars, symbolizing hope & pride, signified those serving in the armed forces. The silver stars, symbolizing remembrance and honor, signified those who had been wounded or contracted a serious illness or injury in a war zone. The gold stars, symbolizing honor and glory, honored an individual who had been killed in action or died while on active duty, someone who made the supreme sacrifice for his/her country.
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High School
At an assembly in March of 1945, Verne Wiggins, representing the local American Legion Post, presented a service flag to Leroy Hill who was president of the high school student council. The flag had two stars, one blue and one gold. The flag represented the men and women serving in the war who had attended Story City High School. The number of those serving and those who were killed while serving was placed below the stars. The flag was placed in a prominent location where all the students can view it.
Story City Herald April 1, 1943
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