Thursday, Aug. 8, 2002 | 8:39 a.m.
Staff Sgt. Robyn Borkowski, an Army veterinary specialist assigned to Nellis Air Force Base, was recently honored by her peers with the prestigious Audie Murphy Award, which includes membership in the Audie Murphy Club.
The club is named after the World War II Medal of Honor winner and movie star.
Borkowski traveled to Fort Irwin, Calif., to receive the award and be inducted into the club at ceremonies there. While assigned to Nellis as a noncommissioned officer in charge of the veterinary treatment facility, Borkowski often travels to remote multi-service installations in California and Nevada to carry out additional duties as NCO in charge of Mojave Branch Veterinary Services for the military.
Borkowski was selected for membership in the Audie Murphy Club in recognition of her excellent leadership abilities, proven in part by her successful record as mentor and leader of 16 soldiers carrying out assignments at five remote locations. The sergeant was judged by two boards before being accepted into the Audie Murphy organization.
Blue Star Service Banners are back
The American Legion is helping revive the tradition of the Blue Star Service Banner displayed by families in recognition of family members serving in the military. The banner was designed and patented in 1917 by World War I Capt. Robert L. Queissner of the Army's 5th Ohio Infantry, who had two sons serving on the front lines. It quickly became the unofficial symbol of a child in the service.
During World War II, the Department of War issued specifications on the manufacture of the banner as well as guidelines indicating when, and by whom, the flag could be flown or the lapel button could be worn.
The banner can be seen hanging in the front window of the Ryan house in the movie "Saving Private Ryan." It is an 8 by 16-inch white field with a blue star sewn onto a red banner. The blue star represents one family member serving in the armed forces.
A banner can have up to five stars, signifying that five members of that family are currently in military uniform on active duty.
Today, Blue Star Service Banners are displayed by families who have a loved one serving in the armed forces, including activated members of the National Guard and Reserves, whether the family member is a son, daughter, brother, sister, wife, husband, cousin, grandchild, etc. The banner displayed in the front window of a home shows a family's pride in their loved one serving in the military.
The American Legion is also encouraging companies with National Guard or Reserve members activated for the war on terrorism to display a corporate Blue Star Service flags.
Information on a variety of Blue Star banners, posters and flags for families and others is available on the organization's website (www.legion.org).
In brief
Thomas successfully completed 12 weeks of training designed to challenge new Marine recruits both physically and mentally.
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