Blue Star Memorial Highway

DeKalb County, GA

The Blue Star Memorial program grew from a 1945 New Jersey highway planting honoring World War II troops into a coast-to-coast tribute to every branch of the armed forces. Here in DeKalb County, the county Federation of Garden Clubs worked with the Redbud District and the Garden Club of Georgia to place the marker. Its blue star recalls the service flags hung in the windows of homes with loved ones at war.

Decatur, GA

Blue Star Memorials date to 1945, when New Jersey garden clubs lined a road with blue-star dogwoods to honor World War II service members; the idea spread nationwide as a tribute to all who have served. This Decatur marker was sponsored by the DeKalb County Federation of Garden Clubs' Redbud District with the Garden Club of Georgia. The blue star echoes the service banners families once displayed for relatives in uniform.

Marietta, GA

Blue Star Memorial Highways trace their name to the blue-star service flags that families hung in their windows during World War II, one star for each loved one in uniform. Begun by garden clubs in 1945 and carried across the country in the decades after, the program lines American roadsides with living tributes to those who have served. This Marietta marker was placed by Georgia garden clubs in cooperation with the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Stone Mountain, GA

Begun in 1945 and named for the blue-star service flags of World War II, the Blue Star Memorial Highway program enlisted garden clubs to dedicate American roads as tributes to the armed forces. Local clubs partnered with state and district garden councils to place the distinctive markers. This one near Stone Mountain was sponsored by three Smoke Rise garden clubs with the Redbud District.