Silver Star Families’ Banner Day Approaches

The Silver Star Families of America, representing families of service members who were wounded or became ill as a result of their military service, is seeking support for its campaign to honor sick and injured service members. The national non-profit organization, founded and chartered by Congress in 2005, is calling on municipalities and citizens across the country to display its Silver Star flag banner on May 1. (The organization’s Silver Star" should not be confused with the combat valor medal of the same name. Rather, it is akin to the Blue Star that represents families of deployed service members, and the Gold Star that represents families of service members who died in the line of duty.) To date, 46 states plus the District of Columbia and Virgin Islands have proclaimed May 1 as Silver Star Day. The organization hopes that the recognition on that date will become permanent one day. More information is available on the group’s Web site at http://www.silverstarfamilies.org.