Preserving San Diego's Naval Heritage

Service Flag

Home| About Us | With Your Help | Contact Us |

[ Home ] [ Up ]

The Service Flag and Label Button.

You can download and print a paper facsimile while you await the arrival of a service that you have ordered.

Click here for the list of Certified Manufacturers to purchase your service flag.

DoD Instruction 1348.33-M
http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/134833m_0996/p134833m.pdf

Manual of Military Decorations & Awards
September 1996
Page 88,  CHAPTER 10

C10.3. SERVICE FLAG AND LAPEL BUTTON

C10.3.1. Definitions. For this section, the following definitions apply:

C10.3.1.1. Members of the Immediate Family. Includes wife, husband, mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, parent through adoption, foster parents who stand or stood in loco parentis, children, stepchildren, children through adoption, brothers, sisters, half brothers, and half sisters of a member of the Armed Forces of the  United States.

C10.3.1.2. Organization. Includes those group organizations such as churches, schools, colleges, fraternities, sororities, societies, and places of business with which the member of the Armed Forces of the United States was or is associated.

C10.3.2. Policy

C10.3.2.1. The Service flag authorized by Section 176, title 36, U.S.C. (reference (vv)) may be displayed in a window of the place of residence of persons who are members of the immediate family of Service members serving in the Armed Forces of the United States during any period of war or hostilities in which the Armed Forces of the United States may be engaged, for the duration of such period of war or hostilities.

C10.3.2.2. The Service flag may be displayed by an organization to honor the members of that organization serving in the Armed Forces of the United States during any period of war or hostilities in which the Armed Forces of the United States may be engaged, for the duration of such period of war or hostilities.

C10.3.2.3. The Service Lapel Button authorized by 10 U.S.C. 1123 (reference (n)) may be worn by members of the immediate family of Service members serving in the Armed Forces of the United States during any period of war or hostilities in which the Armed Forces of the United States may be engaged, for the duration of such period of war or hostilities.

C10.3.3. Delegation of Authority. The Secretary of the Army is hereby designated to act as the Executive Agent of the Secretary of Defense for granting certificates of authority for the manufacture and sale of Service flags and Service Lapel Buttons conforming to the approved design described herein; providing appropriate design instructions to manufacturers; and administering the provisions of 36 U.S.C. 181 (reference (ww)), under which any person, firm, or corporation who manufactures such Service flag or Service Lapel Button without having first obtained such a certificate of authority, or otherwise violates reference (ww), shall, on conviction thereof, be fined not more than 1,000 dollars.

C10.3.4. Design

C10.3.4.1. A design for the Service flag is approved, as follows:  

C10.3.4.1.1. Flag for Immediate Family. On a white rectangular field a blue star or stars within a red border.

C10.3.4.1.1.1. The number of blue stars shall correspond to the number of Service members from the "immediate family" who are symbolized on the flag.

C10.3.4.1.1.2. The flag horizontally displayed shall have the stars arranged in a horizontal line or lines with one point of each star up (Figure C10.F1.).

C10.3.4.1.1.3. The flag described in paragraphs C10.3.4.1.1.1. and C10.3.4.1.1.2., above, may be displayed vertically (Figure C10.1.).

C10.3.4.1.1.4. If the Service member symbolized is killed or dies while serving, from causes other than dishonorable, the star representing that individual shall have superimposed thereon a gold star of smaller size so that the blue forms a border. When the flag is suspended, as against a wall, the gold star shall be to the right of, or above, the blue star (Figure C10.F1.).

C10.3.4.1.2. Flag for Organizations. The flag for organizations shall correspond to that described for an immediate family in paragraphs C10.3.4.1.1.1. through C10.3.4.1.1.4., above, subject to the following additional provisions:

C10.3.4.1.2.1. Instead of using a separate star for each Service member, one star may be used with the number of Service members indicated by Arabic numerals, which shall appear below the star.

C10.3.4.1.2.2. If any Service members are deceased, as determined under the circumstances cited in paragraph C10.3.4.1.1.4., above, a gold star shall be placed nearest the staff, or above the blue star in the case of a flag used in a vertical display (Figure C10.F1.). Below that star shall be the Arabic numerals. C10.3.4.1.2.3. The gold stars in both cases shall be smaller than the blue stars so that the blue shall form a border. The numerals in all cases shall be in blue.

C10.3.4.1.3. Color and Relative Proportions. The shades of colors used in the flag and the relative proportions shall be in accordance with manufacturing instructions furnished to licensed manufacturers by the Department of the Army.

C10.3.2.2. Service Lapel Button. The Service Lapel Button shall be a blue star on a white rectangular field within a red border, 3/16 inch x 3/8 inch in over-all size (Figure C10.F1.) The shades of colors and the detailed dimensions shall be in accordance with manufacturing instructions furnished to licensed manufacturers by the Department of the Army.

C10.3.5. Display of the Service Flag

C10.3.5.1. The Service flag shall be treated with dignity and respect. When displayed with the flag of the United States, the Service flag shall be of approximately equal size, but never larger than the flag of the United States. The flag of the United States shall occupy the position of honor.

C10.3.5.2. When the Service flag is displayed other than by being flown from a staff, it shall be suspended either horizontally or vertically.

C10.3.5.3. Users are cautioned against the use of the Service flag for advertising purposes. It shall not be embroidered on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs; etc., printed, or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discarded; or used as any portion of a costume or athletic uniform. Advertising signs shall not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the Service flag is flown.

C10.3.5.4. For cautions against the improper use of the Service flag, users should be guided generally by Section 176 of title 36, U.S.C. (reference (vv)), which apply to the flag of the United States of America.

C10.3.6. Wearing of the Service Lapel Button

C10.3.6.1. The blue star of the Service lapel button worn by members of the immediate family shall signify that one or more Service members are serving in the Armed Forces of the United States under the conditions specified in paragraph

C10.3.2.3., above. Multiple blue stars are not authorized. C10.3.6.2. A person eligible to wear the Gold Star Lapel Button, section C10.2., above, may wear the Service lapel button in conjunction therewith, if that person is also entitled to wear the Service Lapel Button under paragraph C10.3.2.3., above. A gold star is not authorized as part of the Service Lapel Button.

C10.3.7. Application for Licensing

C10.3.7.1. Applicants desiring to enter into the manufacture and sale of the Service flag or the Service Lapel Button should address applications to the Director, The Institute of Heraldry, 9325 Gunston Road, Suite 112, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5576.

C10.3.7.2. A certificate of authority to manufacture and sell the Service flag or the Service Lapel Button shall be granted only on agreement in writing by the applicant that he or she shall not deviate in the manufacture or sale of the approved official Service flag or Service Lapel Button, as described in this chapter. The certificate of authority shall refer to Section 181 of title 36, U.S.C. (reference (ww)).

C10.3.7.3. Drawings and instructions for the Service flag and the Service Lapel Button shall be provided to manufacturers with the issuance of their certificates of authority.

C10.3.8. Purchase of Service Flag and Service Lapel Button. Service flags and Service Lapel Buttons must be procured from commercial sources. The Government does not have authority to manufacture, issue, or sell Service flags or Service Lapel Buttons.

 Figure C10.F1. Service Flag for Immediate Family and Organizations

	Blue Star on white rectangular field within red border.	Gold star superimposed on blue star, forming blue border.	Gold star nearest staff.
	FIGURE 10-1a. Service Flag for immediate Family, Horizontal Position.
	FIGURE 10-1b.	FIGURE 10-1c.	FIGURE 10-1d.
	Service Flag for immediate family, vertical position.	Service flag for organizations, vertical position, blue star with blue arabic numerals below star.	Service flag for organizations, gold star above blue star, blue arabic numerals below stars.

CERTIFIED MANUFACTURERS FOR SERVICE FLAGS AND LAPEL BUTTONS