The stars on this quilt echo the blue and gold stars on U.S. Service Flags that hung in the homes of those with a family member at war. The gold stars represent servicemembers who died in war.

U. S. Army Captain Robert L. Queissner, of the 5th Ohio Infantry, introduced the flag in 1917 when he hung a banner with two blue stars, signifying his two active-duty sons, in the window of his home. Other Americans quickly adopted the practice, and families superimposed a gold star over the blue star when a soldier was killed in action.