RUMFORD – Marjorie Richard hung the new red, white and blue banner in the front window of the living room in her Mexico home Monday afternoon. The banner, with a blue star, signifies that she and her husband, Joseph, have a son serving during wartime.

During World War II, the homes of millions of Americans hung similar banners in their windows, signifying the same thing. And if that star was changed to gold, it meant that the son was killed while serving.

Bob Richardson, commander of American Legion Post 24 in Rumford, decided it was time the local legion revived the traditional. He’s not sure how many years it has been since local parents had been presented Blue Star Banners, but on Monday, he and others in the Legion started handing them out.

The Richards were the first to receive the banner. Their son, Jarod, is serving with the National Guard in Iraq.

Richardson believes families should be recognized for their sacrifices. And the Richards were chosen first because of the amount of support she has provided to the troops, said Richardson. Recently, Marjorie rounded up help from the local legion to send American flags to the unit in which her son serves.

Along with the banner came a certificate of appreciation, a blue star pin and a year-long membership for Jarod in the American Legion.

“The program faded out, then came back (nationally) during the Gulf War in 1991,” said Richardson, a veteran of the Gulf War, Grenada and Bosnia.

Richard’s son has been a member of the National Guard for five years. She’s thrilled because he will be home for Christmas, from Dec. 14 to Dec. 28. Then, he returns to Iraq until February.

Richardson said he hopes to similarly honor parents of local soldiers serving overseas on a weekly basis until all have received the Blue Star Banner. He knows of at least 12 more in the River Valley area.

The next recipient is the mother of one soldier serving in Iraq and another son who is in boot camp. If both young men are assigned to a war zone, then the banner will have two blue stars on it.