Blue Star Marker

National Garden Clubs Inc.’s Blue Star Memorial Program honors service men and women.

This program began with the planting of 8,000 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 the program and began a Blue Star Highway System, which 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.

The program was expanded to include all men and women who had served, were serving or would serve in the armed services of the United States. Memorial Markers and By-Way markers were added to the Highway Markers, to be used at locations such as National cemeteries, parks, veteran’s facilities and gardens. The Blue Star became an icon representing sons and daughters away at war in World War II, and it was seen on flags and banners in homes, churches and businesses.

The Garden Club of Charleston Inc. maintains two Blue Star Memorials: in Cheney Park, located on Tradd Street at the end of Low Battery, and at the Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Administration Medical Center, 109 Bee Street. The Blue Star Marker committee decorates the Memorials for Federal holidays, including President's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Veterans Day.

Committee Chair:    Eleanor Durgee