Blue Star Service flags have arrived in Center City Philadelphia!
Posted by Lindsay Hagerman on Mon, May 30, 2011 @ 08:00 AM
On this Memorial Day, 2011, it seems fitting to talk a bit about blue
star service flags. A blue star flag is flown by the family of a loved one who is serving overseas. Multiple stars refer to multiple family members. A full history of the origins of the flag can be found here. We're incredibly pleased to see two enormous blue star service flags begin flying on Broad Street in Center City Philadelphia in May.
The first one was ordered by the Blue Star Mothers of Philadelphia group. This wonderful group of women provides support to each other while their children are serving in the military. To find your local chapter or for more information, check out the Blue Star Mothers website. The local chapter President Marian Moran sent along this photo of several of the mothers with their 6' x 10' blue star banner flying in front of the Union League of Philadelphia and we're proud to say that we played a part in it flying over Broad Street downtown! The Union League is a stunning edifice constructed in 1895, and the organization itself was founded to support the policies of Abraham Lincoln and is now a well-respected civic and philanthropic private social club. I was fortunate to attend a Temple ROTC formal function there earlier this month, and I was blown away by the ballrooms, art galleries, and my peeks at the members-only areas on the main level.
But I digress! The other large and eye-catching blue star flag that is just up the street hangs in a protected archway of City Hall, one of Philadelphia's most famous landmarks. Take a look at these shots of City Hall, and looking out of City Hall north along Broad Street:
