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Postwar & Contemporary

Blue Star Memorial Highway A tribute to the Armed

Sumter County, Sumter County, Georgia

Marker Inscription

Blue Star Memorial Highway A tribute to the Armed Forces that have defended the United States of America sponsored by The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. in cooperation with The State Department of Transportation of Georgia and Magnolia District of Garden Clubs of Georgia

Erected by Garden Club of Georgia

The Story

Started in 1945 by garden clubs nationwide, the Blue Star Memorial marks American highways in tribute to the armed forces, its blue star recalling the service flags of World War II. This Sumter County marker was sponsored by the Garden Club of Georgia, the state transportation department, and the Magnolia District garden clubs. It salutes all who have defended the United States.

Why it matters

Blue Star Highways turned the roadside into a lasting, community-built salute to military service.

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Themes & tags

Military & WartimeMemorial

Nearby & related markers

Blue Star Memorial Highway A tribute to the Armed

Americus, GA

The Blue Star Memorial program, begun in 1945 by the National Garden Clubs, honors the armed forces with markers along American highways, the emblem borrowed from the blue-star flags of the wartime home front. In Americus the Early Bloomers Garden Club joined the Garden Club of Georgia, its Magnolia District, and the state transportation department to set this Sumter County marker. It honors all who have defended the nation.

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The Blue Star Memorial program began in 1945, when New Jersey garden clubs lined a highway with flowering dogwoods to honor service members โ€” the blue star echoing the small banners families hung in their windows during World War II. The National Garden Clubs carried the idea across the country, and this marker in Ellaville, placed by the Rainbow Garden Club of the Magnolia District with American Legion Auxiliary Unit 191, extends that living tribute to all who have served in the U.S. armed forces.

Blue Star Memorial Highway

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The Blue Star Memorial, launched in 1945 by the National Garden Clubs, honors the armed forces along the nation's highways, taking its emblem from the blue-star flags of wartime families. In Richland the local garden club joined the Garden Club of Georgia, its Magnolia District, and the state transportation department to place this Stewart County marker. It honors all who have defended the country.

Blue Star Memorial Highway

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Blue Star Memorial Highways honor the men and women of the armed forces with a symbol drawn from the service flags of World War II. Launched by garden clubs in 1945 and sustained ever since in cooperation with state transportation departments, the program dedicates highways nationwide as tributes to those who served. This Crisp County marker was sponsored by the Camellia District with the Garden Club of Georgia.