Service banners return in popularity, paying tribute to those serving, or who have given their lives for, the country

MyWestTexas.com - Service banners, once prevalent during WWI and WWII, return in popularity, paying tribute to those serving, or who have given their lives for, the country:
"It's been almost a century since Service Flags were prominently flown by families with a son fighting in World War I. Displayed in the front windows of homes, the flags quickly became known as 'Son in Service Flags.' The flags retained their popularity in World War II, but by the time the country was involved in Korea and later Vietnam, the flags' prevalence had diminished greatly.
n a move reminiscent of the volunteer armed forces itself, Service Flags are making a comeback. Flag distributions are on the uptick even in Midland, where last month, the Erby and Rosario Zarate family became the latest family to be given a flag, in honor of their son, Andrew.
"Everytime we look at the banner it reminds us of our son and where he is and what he's doing," said Erby Zarate, father of his Army Specialist son.
Zarate, in the military himself in the early 1990s, had never heard of the Service Flags until Midland oilman Donny McClure brought one to his place of business last month.
McClure, who also has an active duty son overseas, was given a flag in honor of his son by Terry Johnson, whose son is also in harm's way in the combat zone.
"To the best of my knowledge, Service Flag distribution is a totally volunteer effort wherever it occurs," McClure said.
McClure first discovered the Service Flags when he was a young boy and, he said, "was snooping around in my grandmother's attic one day." McClure saw the flag, but did not know its meaning.
"It was tattered and worn and in my grandmother's trunk," McClure said. "Aged and yellowed. I had no idea what it was, looking at it as a kid. I knew it had some connection to the military and to her sons and that one came back and one didn't. I made an attempt to hang on to the banners through the years, not understanding what it all meant. Then Terry Johnson gave me one when my son deployed and it all came back to me."
McClure said the equity Midland has in the current war is high and some families have incurred the highest price.
The flags, or banners, come in either Blue Star or Gold Star, with a Blue Star signifying a family member that is currently deployed; a Gold Star banner is for those families that have lost loved ones in the war; there are currently 12 Gold Star families in Midland-Odessa and surrounding area. It is because of the high number of active-duty servicemen and because of the families that have lost loved ones that motivates McClure to distribute as many Service Flags as he can.
"If anybody knows of a family who has a son or a daughter, a mother or a father, an aunt or uncle deployed, just let us know and we'll do the homework and get them delivered," McClure said. If you know of a family that would like to receive a Service Flag, email bluestar@mcclureoil.com or call 683-2787, ext. 17.
Both McClure and Johnson are easily moved when the conversation drifts to their Service Flags.
"When I look at it, it's ... 'Whoa!' " Johnson said. "It just brings it all home. It's a reminder to me and to others that we have a conflict going on, and men and women who are over there are facing many dangers on a daily basis."
So many dangers, in fact, that just last week, 2007 became the deadliest year yet for American servicemen in Iraq.
An example of a Service Flag can be seen in the movies "Saving Private Ryan" and "Majestic." Each star on the flag indicates the number of family members either in the war effort, or who have died in the war.
"The Service Flags let you know what's important and it prioritizes your life," Johnson said. "And when other people see it, it gives me an opportunity to talk to them about my son."
McClure said the flags "become a tie to the son or the daughter, or to the mom or dad or husband. It helps keep that spirit and presence right there with you." "