Veterans Nationwide Honored By Blue Star Memorials

National Garden Clubs’ Program Memorializing Men and Women Of U.S. Armed Forces Turns 65

November 3, 2009 – ST. LOUIS –As Veterans Day approaches, communities across the nation are sponsoring activities to honor those men and women who have served their country in the U. S. Armed Forces. While the parades, dinners and programs are welcomed, many Americans wish to go a step further in honoring veterans by providing visible, ongoing reminders of the nation’s debt to servicemen and servicewomen, past and present. For members of the not-for-profit National Garden Clubs Inc., the largest volunteer organization of its type in the world, the desire to honor American veterans inspired one of the organization’s most successful initiatives--the Blue Star Memorial program, which was first launched in 1944 and is still going strong in its 65th year.

“The Blue Star Memorial program is our oldest and most revered program,” says Renee D. Blaschke, National Garden Clubs Inc. president. “We are proud to play a visible role in honoring our nation’s servicemen and servicewomen.”

Since the program’s inception, more than 2,014 Blue Star Memorials have been erected across the United States. The large, handsome metal markers are placed in national cemeteries, parks, government facilities, veterans homes and hospitals, and along highways across the United States.

The program’s name and symbol are derived from the iconic blue stars that were displayed on banners and flags in homes, churches and businesses across the U.S. during World War II to recognize sons and daughters serving overseas.

The Blue Star Memorial project began in 1944 with the planting of 8,000 dogwood trees by the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs as a living memorial to veterans of World War II. The following year, National Garden Clubs adopted and expanded the program by initiating the Blue Star Highway system, which involves placing permanent memorial markers along the nation’s highways.

In addition to the Blue Star Memorial program, other service projects offered by National Garden Clubs Inc. include the Plant It Pink project, healing gardens and horticultural therapy programs; fundraising for replanting disaster-struck forests; school gardening initiatives for children; flower shows; and a host of civic beautification and improvement efforts. Founded in 1929 and headquartered in St. Louis, NGC (www.gardenclub.org) has 200,000 members connected by a vast network of 6,300 local clubs, 50 state clubs and a National Capital area club, as well as a sizable group of international affiliates.
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