The USO (United Service Organization) has served the United States military branches since just before World War II, providing comfort and recreational services in times of peace and war. The USO has been a private, nonprofit organization since February of 1941 offering religious, spiritual and educational needs for military personnel and family members. During the War, the USO organized clubs for U.S. armed forces providing activities such dancing, sporting events and dinners.

The USO flag can be seen in almost every vintage USO club photograph. Whether inside the club,  hanging outside on the side of a structure or on a flag pole, adding a flag of this particular design can almost instantly date your layout to the 1940s or 50s.

Save The Images

To use the images below on your own layout, simply save the images and choose which method below you’d like to use for printing.  Typically, to save an image from the Web, right-click your mouse on the image and select “Save As”, “Save Target As” or something similar.  The specific process for saving the image may be slightly different depending on your individual Internet browser and setup.

Printing for Use as a Sign or “Flat” Flag

Printing on standard printer paper will give you a “flat” flag — perhaps a flag that is tied and pulled taught from ropes at its corners and hung on a building.  You could also use it this way for a USO sign.

Printing for Use as a Realistic Flag

If you’d like to create a true USO flag that looks to be blowing in the wind, you can print the double image version above as a decal, using white decal paper. See Make Your Own Decals for more information about printing decals.

Once the double-image decal is printed, apply it to a piece of appropriately sized aluminum foil.  The foil should be the size of the single image (half of the double-image version).

The foil will provide a flexible yet thin, rigid surface for the decal to adhere.  When applying the decal, you apply it so that half of the double image is on one side of the foil and then folder over to apply to back side of the foil.

Let the decal dry completely and sit it on a dry paper towel to absorb excess moisture.  Once dry, the foil will be very fragile so be careful with handling.  Although fragile, you should be able to gently shape to finished flag to look as through it’s blowing in the wind and apply it to your layout.