Mystery star leads to trans-Atlantic puzzle
A SURPRISE donation left Inveraray British Legion members scratching their heads.
The striking war memorial on the Royal Burgh’s front green has won a clutch of awards in recent years for its well-kept appearance. A small donation box near the memorial helps fund the cost of maintenance for the town’s Royal British Legion Scotland branch.
Gathering in the loose change on Saturday May 13, British Legion member Ian Lindsay discovered a small plastic bag among the cash. Closer inspection revealed that the bag contained a small embroidered white star on a blue fabric. A card, also inside the bag, carried a cryptic message referring to a Vietnam veteran.
The origin of the star, which seemed to come from the flag of the United States, was
something of a mystery. Ian was curious about the star’s origins and brought it into the Argyllshire Advertiser.
He said: ‘Was this from someone who has served in Vietnam, or did it belong to his father maybe?’
Ian added: ‘I also wanted to thank the person who seems to have carried this all the way from the USA to Inveraray. It is very touching.’
After a bit of digging, the Advertiser discovered that these stars originated with a woman from New York State, Susan Wells, who set up a not-for-profit organisation called Stars for our Troops in 2010. Its purpose was, and is, to let serving and former members of the US armed forces know that their service is recognised and that they are not forgotten.
Stars for our Troops uses stars from wornout US flags, and there are currently well over 200 people and groups around the United States involved in making the stars.
According to the Stars for our Troops website, the stars have made a difference to more than 212,000 people in 2016.
The Advertiser contacted Susan Wells, who was surprised to hear that one of her stars had found its way to Argyll.
Susan said: ‘The only thing I can think of is someone was visiting your area and may know that American soldiers were there, or are buried there, or it was left in honour of the community and your support of the American military.
‘There are many people that are sending stars in greeting cards to the military, also.
‘Because of this, and because visitors are carrying stars to give to other people they meet, I cannot tell you how it got there.’