PIKE COUNTY, Mo. — Members of the Clarksville Garden Club began a sponsorship last November to install a Blue Star Memorial Marker at the new Visitors center in Bowling Green, MO.

The Blue Star Memorial Highways are a tribute to the armed forces that have defended the United States of America. The National Garden Clubs, Inc., is the parent organization for Blue Star Memorial Highways.

The idea dates to 1944 when the New Jersey State Council of Garden Clubs beautified a 5½-mile stretch of U.S. 22 from Mountainside, NJ to North Plainfield, NJ. Approximately 8,000 dogwood trees were planted as a living memorial to the men and women in the Armed Forces from New Jersey. In 1945, the National Council of State Garden Clubs adopted the program and began the Blue Star Highway system.

The Blue Star Memorial Program has since grown to extend thousands of miles across the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii. Markers continue to be dedicated each year on highways, Veteran’s facilities, National Cemeteries, parks and civic and historic sites.

The Blue Star, taken from the blue star in the service flag, was chosen to symbolize the memorial because it was used during World War II on flags and homes of families that had a son or daughter in the service.

The Clarksville Garden Club is hopeful of installing a Blue Star Memorial Marker in 2021. The Garden Club is thankful to all who have contributed and are hopeful that more donations will be received in order to cover the $2000 cost to complete the project.

If you would like to donate, please make checks payable to: Clarksville Garden Club.  Mail your donations to the Clarksville Garden Club, Joe Pridgeon, Treasurer, 10151 Pike 9127, Frankford, MO 63441.  All monies donated go specifically to this project.  If you would like more information on this project or Clarksville Garden Club membership, please contact Joyce Lewis, President at: 636-443-5188 or Joe Pridgeon, Treasurer at: 636-544-5999.