10-Year Ribbon Bar

AMERICAN RED CROSS Alexander EASTERN AREA SAF-2 615 NORTH ST. ASAPH STREET ALEXANDRIA. VIRGINIA ECS 114 - A 20 (Supplementing ECS 10 - A 1) April 4, 1942 TO: Chapter Chairmen FROM: Acting Manager, Eastern Area SUBJECT: Service Ribbon Bars In the Chairman's letter of October 1, 1941, reference was ma,de to service ribbon bars which had been adopted by the Central Committee upon the recommendation of the Committee on Awards. The intervention of priorities and certain manufacturing difficulties en- countered in the development of a satisfactory woven emblem on the ribbon have caused a much longer delay than was anticipated at that time, but I am glad to announce that at the last meeting of the Central Committee on March 2, 1942, designs for four different bar pins were approved and are now in process of manufacture. The service ribbon bars are equipped with an excellent type of safety clasp pin and may be worn by paid or volunteer workers when in uniform or civilian clothing to indicate continuous Red Cross service in accordance with the following schedule: 1. A plain blue and white ribbon bar with the Red Cross emblem centered thereon to indicate five years continuous service. 2. The same ribbon bar with a white star in a blue field on one side of the emblem to indicate ten years continuous ser- vice. The ribbon should be worn with the star to the left of the wearer. 3. The same ribbon bar with a white star on each side of the emblem to indicate fifteen years of continuous service. 4. A red, white, and blue ribbon bar with the emblem centered to indicate twenty or more years of continuous service. Only the design to which the worker may be entitled by reason of the dura- tion of continuous service shall be awarded or sold to an individual. Only one ser- vice ribbon bar may be worn at a time, that representing the longest period of continuous service. Chapters are authorized to use Red Cross funds to purchase a reasonable quantity of service ribbon bars to be awarded to individuals in recognition of long. and meritorious service, but in general they should be purchased for resale at cost to the individual entitled to wear them. The service ribbon bars will be available for distribution as a resalè item about the middle of April, and Chapters should prepare lists of the individuals in their jurisdiction who are eligible to wear them, and place their orders promptly through this office. The resale price to Chapters or individuals will be 25 each, regardless of the quantity purchased. 1660