Silver Star Service Banner Day

In 2010, the US Congress passed a resolution that officially designated May 1st as National Silver Star Service Banner Day in order to recognize and remember service members who have been wounded in combat, are sick, and those who are dying.

Traditionally, military families have displayed banners in a window in their place of residence. Display of service banners are actually specifically authorized by military regulations and United States Code, Title 36, § 901.

There are three authorized service banners:

1) Gold- for sacrifice, usually indicating a service member killed in action or who died during service, 2) Blue- for hope, usually indicating a deployed family member, and 3) Silver- for gallantry, indicating a family member that has been wounded or sickened in combat.

Silver Star Service Banner and the Silver Star Medal

Despite a common misconception, Silver Star Service Banner is not associated with receipt of the Silver Star Medal.

The Silver Star and is the third-highest U.S. military combat decoration. Originally established during World War I in 1918 as the “Citation Star,” the decoration was changed to the Silver Star we know today during World War II. According to the Department of Defense website [make hyperlink to https://valor.defense.gov/Description-of-Awards/], the Silver Star is:

Awarded for gallantry in action:

• While engaged in combat against an enemy of the United States;

• While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or

• While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

Actions that merit the Silver Star must be of such a high degree that they are above those required for all other U.S. combat decorations but do not merit award of the meet Medal of Honor or a Service Cross (Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, or the Air Force Cross).

While hard to track exactly, many veteran service and military history organizations estimate that between 100,000 and 150,000 Silver Stars have been awarded since 1918.

Silver Star Service Banner and Recognition of the Service and Sacrifice of Military Families

It is easily forgotten that the families and loved-ones of military members are frequently those that bear some of the biggest costs and sacrifices of war. Care for injured and sick service members is an unseen sacrifice and patriotic service, which often comes with great emotional, physical, and financial expenses.

If you see a Silver Star Service Banner displayed on a home this year, we encourage you to take a moment to consider, reflect, and appreciate the sacrifices of the military member and family that the banner represents.