Blue Star Memorial Project of National Garden Clubs

It was a beautiful day for the installation of the first Blue Star Memorial Marker in New Hanover Country. The New Hanover Garden Club in Wilmington, NC held a very festive ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery. It was dedicated on Memorial Day. It was a perfect day to honor and remember those veterans who have and will serve in the Armed Forces of the United States of America.

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. It originated in the years following the Civil War, and became an official federal holiday in 1971 honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. This Gold Star Marker is sponsored by the Harpswell Garden Club, Garden Club Federation of Maine. It’s located in the P-3 Park in front of a retired Navy airplane in Brunswick, Maine. The name Gold Star came from the custom of families of service members hanging a banner called a service flag in the window of their homes. The service flag had a star for each family member in the United States Armed Forces. Blue Stars represented living service members while a Gold Star represented those who had lost their lives. NGC clubs work with Gold Star Families to honor our fallen heroes with Gold Star Markers.

Rosita Aristoff, Vice President of The Garden Club of Stuart and the state Blue Star Chairman in Florida, recently attended the Blue Star Memorial Dedication Service, organized by the Estero Island Garden Club, at the Fort Myers Beach Public Library. Also attending was Fort Myers Beach Mayor Ray Murphy, and Lee County Commissioner Ray Sandell. To honor our country’s veterans a living memorial garden was created with the National Garden Club’s Blue Star Memorial Marker installed near the main entrance of the library. At the dedication ceremony many veterans from each of the service branches were among the approximately 150 people attending. A five piece brass instrument ensemble played patriotic music before, during, and after the ceremony last Saturday. The club installed the marker with the help of veterans.

Located in Shepherd Mi. next to a hiking trail.

Some Blue Star markers in South Dakota. Whenever you travel and find a Blue or Gold Star marker we would love to see them tagged with the location.

Kentucky history....

The Dublin Federated Garden Clubs, the Camellia District Garden Clubs, and the Garden Club of Georgia held a dedication for a Blue Star Marker located in rest area #87 on I-16 near Dublin. Congratulations..... https://youtu.be/rWRWKiAxT-E

If you are in Texas, look around. They have a lot of Blue Star Markers. Here are a couple.

The New Hanover Garden Club in Wilmington, NC used proceeds from their Art & The Bloom event to place a Blue Star Memorial Marker at the Wilmington National Cemetery. This is the first Blue Star Memorial in New Hanover County. They are proud to show their support for all of the veterans who have served in the United States military. A dedication and reception will follow at a later date.

Here are some markers in Illinois. These were installed by several different clubs.

The Allamanda Garden Club in Florida installed their Blue Star Marker in 1968. It was showing it's age and the club paid to have it restored (see photos). They will rededicate it on April 9th. What a difference.

Boothbay Region Garden Club's Blue Star Marker in Maine.

Old Bristol Garden Club in Maine...

Several South Dakota Blue Stars...

Here are some Iowa Blue Star Markers

Consider ordering a Blue Star ornament from the National Garden Clubs store. www.gardenclub.org/our-store?title=ornament

Veterans Day is this week and there will be many new Blue & Gold Star Markers dedicated. Here is one... "Our memorial is ready for dedication this coming Wednesday November 11th Veterans Day! The River Valley Garden Club’s Community Outreach Project is complete! We are located in Rancho Murieta, Sacramento County, Northern California." Let us all remember those who have served and are serving now.