92 Flag
World War I Service Flag
Presented to Naval Lodge No. 4 on May 2, 1918
A service flag is usually displayed by family members of service members deployed during war time. A gold star represents a family member that died during service.
The service flag was designed in 1917 by United States Army Captain Robert L. Queisser of the Fifth Ohio Infantry, in honor of his two sons who were serving in World War I. It was quickly adopted by the public and by government officials.
On September 24, 1917, an Ohio congressman read into the Congressional Record: “The mayor of Cleveland, the Chamber of Commerce and the Governor of Ohio have adopted this service flag. The world should know of those who give so much for liberty. The dearest thing in all the world to a father and mother — their children.”
On April 4, 1918 the members of Naval Lodge voted to purchase a Service Flag for the building to honor those members who were serving in what we now call World War I. A flag was purchased for $14.16 and presented to the Lodge on May 2, 1918.
The minutes from that day read: “At the request of the Committee having in charge the purchase of a service flag, Bro. Past Master Roepke presented it to the Lodge in a very appropriate and commendable manner, speaking particularly of the sixty-eight “brethren represented by the stars, representing one out of every seven of the entire membership of the Lodge.”
On November 21, 1918, ten days after the cease fire later known as Armistice Day, Naval Lodge met and it was noted that twenty-four more stars needed to be added to the flag, for a total of ninety-two. It appears that rather than try to squeeze the stars onto the already crowded flag, the brothers decided to stitch the numerals 92 onto the flag. Of the 92 members of Naval Lodge that served in WWI, two died in service to their country.
A Grand Old Flag
By John Kelly
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 10, 2010; 11:14 PM
Like a lot of old buildings, the headquarters of Naval Lodge No. 4 at 330 Pennsylvania Ave. SE is full of mysteries. It dates from 1894, although the lodge itself is much older. The order of Freemasons was founded in 1805 by carpenters, pipefitters and boatwrights from the Navy Yard, thus its name.
“This building has so many bizarre nooks and crannies, hidden passages, trapdoors and things that I’m forever finding new things,” said Isaiah Akin, a Senate staffer who’s a member of the lodge. Members found an original stone from the White House. The block – inscribed with Masonic symbols – was among those handed out by Harry S. Truman when the executive mansion was renovated. “There’s always strange stuff turning up,” Isaiah said. Last year, he was poking around when he found a box. Inside was a flag, red with a white rectangle covered in 68 stars. Also stitched to it: the number 92.
Isaiah did a little research and determined that it’s a World War I service flag, made to honor the 68 Naval Lodge members who served in the Great War. And the 92? After it was made, 24 more members enlisted. There wasn’t room for their stars, so the digits were added instead. “It makes you think about the people who served in World War I and the awfulness of that war,” Isaiah said of the flag. The public is invited to see the flag unveiled by the lodge’s worshipful master at 2 p.m. Thursday. Many members are veterans. Here’s a chance to thank them.
