The (Shooting?), Silver Star

                                        The order of the fallen? asks Harold Hill 

The Order of the Silver Star is the award made by a grateful Salvation Army to the mothers of its officers, presumably to recognise that their children have been nurtured with a propensity to become officers. Fathers evidently make a lesser contribution to this outcome, though lately, at least in this territory, they have tended to be mentioned in dispatches at the time of commissioning even if undeserving of a medal in their own right. This distinction, apparently devised by Evangeline Booth in that sentimental nation that also gave us Mothers’ Day and later foisted on the international Army, provides at its best the opportunity for the Movement to engage in some way with non-Salvationist parents of officers, perhaps with the happy outcome that they enlist in its ranks themselves. At its worst, the administration of the Order provides one of those meaningless “little jobs for the ladies” dreamed up to fulfill the calling of the officer-wives of men occupying positions of great responsibility at THQ.

Recently I happened upon a further refinement of this system of recognition. The mother of an officer resigning her commission received a letter from the Personnel Section at Territorial Headquarters advising her that she was no longer entitled to wear her Silver Star. Might a non-Salvationist mother simply take this in her stride as one of those peculiarities of this curious organisation, or would she perceive it as somewhat ungracious? And when the mother is herself a retired officer, would it be perceived as shaming to some degree? Would it imply that just as the mother was held responsible and rewarded for the career choice of her son or daughter, she was now to be held equally responsible and degraded for that same offspring’s further decision to fulfill her calling in a different sphere? And should that child subsequently re-enter the Work, as sometimes happens, would the mother receive a further letter advising her that it was now OK to put up her decoration again?

Now within the cultural cocoon spun by a spiritual bureaucracy, the sending of such a letter may seem entirely logical and consistent. Anyone less myopic might find it hurtful and sick. We have a well-attested tradition of shooting our wounded in this Army; it would appear that we also take pot-shots at their relations. Of course this is par for the course under totalitarian regimes, but it would be nice to think that we had outgrown such behaviour.

 Writer: Harold Hill is a happily retired Salvation Army officer in New Zealand, happily married to Pat, blessed with two grown-up, married daughters and a fairly recent grand-daughter, happily occupied with research into the relationship between the Salvation Army and the Charismatic and Pentecostal movements, irregular writing, speaking and teaching engagements, and the garden. 

6 Comments to The (Shooting?), Silver Star

1. Thanks for an interesting post Harold. I love the way you write…

   In this territory both fathers and mothers now receive the silver star. This is becoming even more complicated these days with the “variations” on family relations around. My father, for one, “abdicated” his rights to the silver star to my step-father. Not because he didn’t want it, but because he respected the role that my step-father had played. I’m aware of cadets who have also asked (and received) that their silver star be given to another “significant” person in their upbringing. Given these growing complexities it will be even more interesting to see whether, on resignation of the officer, whether the Personnel Department could even track down these connections, let alone “de-star” them.

   On another note, my father-in-law was intrigued to hear about the “gold” star and wanted to know how he could get one of those. He was less enthusiastic once he found out that my wife would have to die on active service for that to happen!

   Thanks
   Adam C
Adam Couchman on August 18th, 2010

2. “We have a well-attested tradition of shooting our wounded in this Army…”

   too true!!!

   Mark B.
markbraye on August 18th, 2010

3. While I must say that my 87 year old mother likes receiving the trinkets sent at Christmas to the Silver Star mothers, I’m extremely glad I’ve not had the responsiblity to pick them out, wrap and mail them. Given the cultural changes of the last 50 years, this may be a tradition that could be dropped, but imagine the outcry if it happens the year you (or your child) is commissioned. When the rules were more stringent, there was much angst over who could and could not receive the silver star.

   JoAnn
JoAnn on August 19th, 2010

4. It’s not often that Rubicon leaves me completely speechless, but this entry has managed it! lol!

   Eleanor
Eleanor Burne-Jones on August 20th, 2010

5. Maybe they should come with satellite-controlled green, amber and red lights and GPS plus homing beacon? They could emit a continuous low moan when things don’t look good for the officer with whom it’s associated.

   Eleanor
Eleanor Burne-Jones on August 20th, 2010

6. I read with great interest this article and the comments made.

   It raises a personal question and that is due the fact that a ’significant’ person can no longer be elected in the Australian Eastern Territory, only parents (as @ 2010)

   Two questions / comments:
   1. What then happens to a Cadet who has parents that are non-christian and want NO part of any ‘religousness’ or meaningless ‘religous trinkets’.
   The cadet can only nominate a parent and cannot nominate a person who has been a significant parent or significant life figure, spiritual parent or mentor. What to do with the Silver Stars?
   2. What happens with older cadets who have one or both parent deceased?

   John B.
John on September 1st, 2010

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