THANK YOU*

Sandy Resnick Navy	Joseph Hart Army	John Paul Suchecki Army Reserve	Anthony J. Misner Army Reserve
	Jamie Ryan Holt Army	Add a Family Name Service

*If a name is hyperlinked, you can find a biography and information on becoming a pen pal with the selected service person.

Write to Deborah Resnick,
the Blue Star Project Hostess.

AMERICAN WAR MOTHERS

a little history from
HomeofHeroes.com

In 1917 Army Captain Robert L. Queissner of the 5th Ohio Infantry designed and patented a simple flag to reflect the World War I service of two sons.

The appeal of this flag quickly caught on, and on September 24, 1917, an Ohio congressman read into the Congressional Record: "The mayor of Cleveland, the Chamber of Commerce and the governor of Ohio have adopted this service flag. The world should know of those who give so much for liberty. The dearest thing in all the world to a father and mother — their children."

Three days later the American War Mothers organized in Indiana, and that organization quickly grew in other states. It was a close-knit group, composed of women with one thing in common... a child at risk because of their choice to answer their Nation's call to military service.

Throughout the war, these mothers displayed a flag with a blue star in their window, denoting the service of a son or daughter. These mothers also sought other ways to serve the military community, whether by direct services to men and women in military service, or by promoting important causes to the war, such as the National Government's call for food conservation.

When World War I began claiming the lives of many of these young Americans, a new flag developed. When a son was killed in action a GOLD star was sewn over the blue one, completely covering it. In May 1918 the Women's Committee of National Defenses suggested to President Woodrow Wilson that those mothers who had lost a family member in the war should wear a black band on their upper-left arm, adorned with a gold star. In a letter affirming his support for this proposal, President Wilson referred to these women as "Gold Star Mothers".

It was the beginning a a new tradition of patriotic support for those who serve our Nation in uniform.

more >

SEND A PUBLIC MESSAGE WITH OUR GUEST BOOK
> Add your thoughts to the Blue Star Project Guest Book
We appropriated our normal guest book, and pressed it into service for everyone who wants to send a message via our web site, to those who have children and spouses in service. Let them know you're thinking of them.

HOW DO I BECOME A PEN PAL?
> How?

ADD A SERVICE MEMBER'S NAME
> e-mail WebServices@ihen.org

Send a Letter!
Have a penpal site YOU like?
Let Us Know!

IHEN'S BLUE STAR PROJECT MAIN PAGE
> http://www.ihen.org/bluestar/BlueGoldStar.htm

IHEN'S BLUE STAR DISPLAY PAGE
> http://www.ihen.org/bluestar/

INDIANA HOME EDUCATORS' NETWORK
> http://www.ihen.org
> ihen@ihen.org

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THANK YOU*

Write to Deborah Resnick, the Blue Star Project Hostess.

AMERICAN WAR MOTHERS

Write to Deborah Resnick,
the Blue Star Project Hostess.