Honoring Our Own: Blue Star Banner Given to Mekka Livingston
Service to both the military and Cook Children's runs in the Livingston family
The purpose of the Blue Star Service Banner program, sponsored by the Cook Children's Veterans Group (CCVG), is to recognize and support Cook Children’s employees and/or their immediate family members that deploy.
The banner hangs in the employee's work area so it can be seen by others and serve as a reminder to all of the employee's or loved ones' service to our country.
On Wednesday, May 18, the Cook Children’s Veterans Group presented Mekka Livingston, manager of Employee Relations, and her husband, John, with a Blue Star Banner and Build-A-Bear in honor of their son, Jacoby Livingston.
Jacoby also works at Cook Children's as an anesthesia technician in the Medical Center. He is in the National Guard and is leaving in mid-June for his second deployment.
John is a veteran himself, serving 11 years in the Navy and doing two tours.
We are so thankful to John, Jacoby and Mekka for their dedication and sacrifice to our country and our organization.
About The Blue Star Banner
The Blue Star Banner program began in 1917 and was designed and patented by WWI Army Captain Robert L. Queisser of the 5th Ohio Infantry, who had two sons serving on the front line. The flag quickly became the unofficial symbol of a child in service.
During WWII, the practice of displaying the flag became much more widespread and most were hand-made by mothers across the nation.
Families are encouraged to display these banners indoors and flown facing out from the front window of the home until their loved one returns, so others may know and be reminded of the daily sacrifice they are going through.
Pictured from Left to Right: Sherry Foster, Mekka Livingston, John Livingston and Kimberly Johnson
Pictured from Left to Right: Sherry Foster, Robert Weber, Mekka Livingston, John Livingston and Kimberly Johnson
Pictured from Left to Right: Karen Kimberling, Mekka Livingston, and John Livingston
