Blue Star Memorials

The Blue Star Memorial Program, sponsored by National Garden Clubs, Inc., honors all men and women who have served in the Unites States Armed Services. This program began with the planting of 8000 dogwood trees by the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs in 1944 as a living memorial to veterans of World War II.

In 1945, the National Council of State Garden Clubs adopted this program and began a Blue Star Highway system that covers thousands of miles across the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. A large metal Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker was placed at appropriate locations along the way. Since the program began, Memorial Markers and By-Way Markers have been added to the Highway Markers, to be used at locations such as National cemeteries, parks, veterans’ facilities and gardens.

Information about the NGC Blue Star and Gold Star Families Memorials can be found at: www.gardenclub.org/projects/blue-star-memorials.aspx.