---
title: The United Service Flag. Each Star (290 in All) Represents a United Employee in the Armed Service
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/united-service-flag-290-stars-1917-1919/
description: 'A service flag of the type hung by employers and families: a red border around a white field holding 290 small stars.'
section: Collection
---

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3. The United Service Flag. Each Star (290 in All) Represents a United

[![The United Service Flag. Each Star (290 in All) Represents a United Employee in the Armed Service, 1917 US poster: A service](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/united-service-flag-290-stars-1917-1919.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/united-service-flag-290-stars-1917-1919.jpg)

# The United Service Flag. Each Star (290 in All) Represents a United Employee in the Armed Service

A service flag of the type hung by employers and families: a red border around a white field holding 290 small stars. The text beneath says each star represents 'a United Employe[e] now in the Armed' services. The tell is the flag format itself, which turns a head count of enlisted workers into a visible badge of the firm's membership in the war effort.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Identity fusion](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/identity-fusion/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
THE UNITED
SERVICE FLAG

[flag with 290 stars]

Each Star (290 in all) represents a
United Employe now in the Armed
[line cut off at foot of scan]
```

'Employe' is the spelling as printed. The last line is cut off; NARA's title continues 'Service of the United States.'

[← So hilft dein Geld Dir kämpfen! In U-Boote verwandelt, hält es Dir feindliche Granaten vom Leib! (This Is How Your Money Helps You Fight! Turned into U-boats, It Keeps Enemy Shells off Your Body!)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/u-boote-kriegsanleihe-1917/) [U.S. Marines "Soldiers of the Sea": For Full Information Apply Recruiting Station →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/us-marines-soldiers-of-the-sea-1917-1919/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [A Little American's Promise](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/a-little-americans-promise-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion, Transfer)
- [All Together! Enlist in the Navy](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/all-together-enlist-in-the-navy-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Bandwagon, Identity fusion)
- [Members of U.S. Food Administration: America Has Promised to Feed the Hungry Millions of Europe, Waste Nothing](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/america-food-pledge-20-million-tons-1917-1919/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion)
- [Do Your Duty. Join the U.S. Marines. Help Them Defend America on Land and Sea](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/do-your-duty-join-the-us-marines-1917-1919/) (United States · 1917 · Glittering generalities, Identity fusion)
- [50-50 (The Job of Beating Up the Hun)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/fifty-fifty-service-series-11-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Name-calling, Identity fusion)
- [Food Will Win the War: Member of United States Food Administration (Pledge Card)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/food-will-win-the-war-member-pledge-card-1917-1919/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion, Bandwagon)
- [Hit the Bull's Eye! Are You on This List? Get Your Name in the Circle: It's the Ring of Liberty](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/hit-the-bulls-eye-ring-of-liberty-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Bandwagon, Identity fusion)
- [I Am a Soldier of the United States (Service Series No. 12)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/i-am-a-soldier-of-the-united-states-service-series-no-12-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion, Glittering generalities)