Blue Star Banner Program

National Commander Ric Santos of Maryland recently issued a challenge. "I ask the American Legion family to . . . take the lead in a show of national pride and unity by providing a Blue Star Banner to every family in their area who has a relative serving in our war on terrorism. Let us provide this service to our military families. By them hanging the banner in their windows, these families display their pride and patriotism, " Santos said.

The Blue Star Banner program was a common site in America’s neighborhoods during World Wars I and II. Created in 1917, people hung it in their windows to denote that a member of the family was serving in the armed forces. Leaders of the nation’s largest wartime veterans organization believe the program can play a vital role in America’s war on terrorism.

Post 66 will provide a Blue Star Banner to any member of Post 66's Legion family who has a family member(s) serving in the armed forces, to include Army National Guard and Reserve Component members who have been called to active duty. Requests for banners should include the service members name and military organization, along with the name and membership number of the American Legion family member.

Requests should be mailed to:

The American Legion, Disney-Bell Post 66
ATTN: Blue Star Banner
9705 Old Laurel-Bowie Road
Bowie, Maryland 20720

Future plans call to extend this program beyond the Post; however, we currently only taking orders for Post 66 members.

As of this writing, Blue Star Banners are on "back order" from National Emblem Sales and are expected to be shipped in late January 2002. Don’t let this stop you though. Please place your order as soon as possible and you will be notified when they are received at the Post.