National Park Service National Park Service Uniforms Badges and Insignia, 1894-1991

A stripe was authorized on January 9, 1915, for each five years with the park service. [62] The correspondence authorizing these stripes do not specify color, size or material and since there are no known photograph of an employee wearing one, this can not be determined at this date, although it was probably the same black soutache specified in the 1920 regulations. With the 1920 uniform regulations, the single black stripe was regulated to one year of service, with a silver star taking its place for five years. These insignia were to be sewn on the left sleeve with the lowest device being 2-1/2 inches from the end. The stripes were originally to be "narrow black silk braid 3 inches long" but when the regulations were issued they specified "A service stripe of black braid 1/8" wide by 2 inches long". The stars were to be "embroidered white" (silver). Both were issued on long, three inch wide strips of unbound forest green serge. Apparently the edges were to be turned leaving a 2-inch bar exposed in the case of the stripes. However, photographs show stripes of varying lengths resulted when left to the individual. Trying to turn the soutache and keep it neat was also a trick. Although not specified in the regulations, photographs show that the normal practice was for the stripes to be above the stars when worn together.

1915-1936 SERVICE STRIPE, 3-INCH 1915-1920 Each stripe = 5 years 1920-1938 Each stripe = 1 year Stripes black, 3 inches long, 1/8-inch wide

Some employees had been around since long before the formation of the National Park Service, entitling them to an abundance of stars and stripes. "A man with fifteen or twenty years of service looks like a rear admiral," Frank Pinkley commented. [63] This situation was alleviated in 1930 by Office Order No. 204, which introduced gold stars to represent ten years of service. They lasted only until Office Order No. 324 of April 13, 1936, revamped the stripes and silver stars as follows:

For each year of completed service a black braid, 1/8" wide and 2" long.

After the first star is earned, bars shall be discontinued to indicate service ofless than five-year periods. For each five-year period of completed service, a silver embroidered star.

1932-1938 SERVICE STAR Each star = 10 years Gold thread, 1/2-inch wide

The new regulations corrected the problem of the stripe appearance. Stripes were still applied to long 3 inch wide rolls of unbound forest green serge, but now, instead of tape, they were embroidered 1/8 inch by 2 inches long on it.

1936-1961 SERVICE STRIPE, 2-INCH Each stripe = 1 year Stripes black, 2 inches long, 1/8-inch wide

The order also stated that "When more than one star is worn, they shall be arranged horizontally up to four and triangularly when more than four stars are worn."

1920-1961 SERVICE STAR Each star = 5 years Stars white, 1/2-inch wide

The "triangularly" part caused some problems later until it was decided that the fifth star would be centered over the bottom four and subsequent stars would contribute to an expanding pyramid. Stars came in units of one to six. Units of one to four were arranged horizontally, while five and up were to be arranged triangularly. (seven stars — unit of four and a unit of three; eight stars - unit of five and unit of three; etc.)

Until 1956 the service stars were made up on a continuous roll, same as the stripes. When cut and applied to the sleeve, the serge material often unraveled and took on a ragged appearance if not sewn properly. That year, Charles C. Sharp suggested that they be made up on neat cloth panels, with a border, of from one to six stars each. This solved the problem. [64] Also in 1956, with some personnel reaching very long service, it was decided that when seven stars were worn, the bottom row would contain five stars.

1920-1961 MULTIPLE STARS When more than four stars were worn, they were to be arranged in a pyramid as shown in this 1956 example

The 1961 uniform regulations eliminated all the stars and stripes, replacing them with Department of the Interior pins for service in ten-year increments from ten to fifty years. These pins, worn at the discretion of the employee, featured a buffalo with U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR in an arc over the top and the year OFFICIAL FIRST DAY COVER designation across the bottom. They were all bronze, but each year had a different background color.

1961-1972 1990-present USDI SERVICE PINS Bronze with different accent colors

In 1972 the Service switched to pins supplied by the General Services Administration. These consisted of an eagle over a shield containing the years, with DEPT. OF THE INTERIOR on a ribbon underneath. They were bronze for ten years, silver for twenty years, and gold for thirty years and above, with different colored backgrounds.

1972-1987 GSA SERVICE PINS Bronze, silver, and gold with different accent colors

The pins changed again in 1987. This time they came from the Office of Personnel Management and consisted of the national eagle emblem, complete with wreath of stars over the top. Again they came in bronze, silver, and gold, but there was no wording on them, only the years designation at the bottom. All of the designations had a blue background.

1987-1990 OPM SERVICE PINS Bronze, silver, and gold with blue background behind numerals

In 1990 the Service reverted to the Interior pin. Like the others, it is worn in the buttonhole on the left lapel. Also as in previous cases, the earlier pin continued to be issued until the stock of it was depleted.