Vigo County Historical Society
Historical Treasure Article
Historic Treasure of the Week -
June 5, 1983
By Patricia F. Engelland
Vigo County Historical Society
Banners proclaimed patriotism
During World War I and World War II service banners, or flags, placed in windows signaled that a family member was in the armed services. This week’s historical treasure shows two examples of service banners from World War I and a poster illustrating the window hanging of 25 years later during World War II.
The small cardboard window card was given to the Vigo County Historical Society by Thelma Skidmore and Erma Griffin. The oilcloth-like banner printed with “Design patented May 1918” was given from the estate of Grace Compton Piety by Mr. and Mrs. L.E. Kester and Mrs. Charles Hilton. These two symbols with the blue star were used on the home front to show loyalty and support for doughboys “over there.”
The fold poster contains the same symbol--the star on a red silk banner with gold fringe.
The poster shown, printed in 1943, is No. 41 of the series printed by the Office of War Information. Pictorial publicity to promote the war effort was executed by the Committee of Public Information in World War I and by the Office of War Information in World War II.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.