I'm excited to announce that Bear Staffing Tomahawk Branch Manager Dee Matis was presented with a Blue Star Service Banner. Prior to her being presented with it, I wasn't aware of the strong meaning it carried, and when I found out, was quite intrigued.

A Blue Star Service Banner is typically displayed in the home of someone who is serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. If it has one star, it means one person is
serving. It can have up to five stars to signify five family members are in military uniform or on active duty. Sometimes the banners have a gold star in place of a blue star. A gold star signifies that a family member was killed or died in the service.

The flag was designed by Army Captain Robert I. Queissner, a captain who served in World War I. He designed it and patented it in 1917, as he had two sons who at the time, were serving on the front lines. Following, this flag became an unofficial symbol for having a child in the U.S. Armed Forces. Today, it represents any family member serving. In addition to families using them, churches, employers, and clubs do as well to show that a member or employee is serving.

Earlier last month the American Legion Searl Post No. 93 stopped by the Bear Staffing Branch in Tomahawk because they noticed an American flag hanging in
the branch's window. (A United States flag hung with the blue side to the left
signifies supporting troops.) They thanked us for our support of those serving and began chatting with Dee. Through talking to her, they discovered that her son Dexter is deployed in Afghanistan. A few days later, they returned to the branch and presented Dee with the Blue Star Banner for her office window.

Dexter Matis signed up for the National Guard following high school, which paid for him to go to college. According to Dee, his high school teachers got him interested in it for the many benefits it has to offer. While studying at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dexter joined the ROTC. In December 2012 he graduated college with an Economics Degree and was commissioned as an officer in the National Guard. Since June 28, 2013 he's been deployed in Afghanistan.

Now, the next time you see a flag with a blue or gold star, you'll know what it means!