The Clarksville Garden Club is sponsoring a Ladies Luncheon and Purse Auction on Saturday Sept. 25, 2021.  The purpose of the Luncheon and Purse Auction is to raise the needed funds to complete the placement of a Blue Star Memorial at the new Visitors Center at Hwy 61 in Bowling Green.

The Blue Star Program honors all men and women that serve in the United States Armed Services. 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 (now NGC, Inc.) adopted this program and began a Blue Star Highway system that covers thousands of miles across the Continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. Blue Star Memorial Highway Markers were placed along the way. The Blue Star was adopted because it had become an icon in World War II and was seen on flags and banners in homes for sons and daughters away at war as well as in churches and businesses.

The Clarksville Garden Club sponsored its first Luncheon and Purse Auction in 2019 to raise funds to install directional signs for the Village of the Blue Rose in Clarksville.  Due to Covid, there was a delay in getting that project completed, but the signs are now in place along Hwy 79 and sport the logo of the Village of the Blue Rose with directional arrows.  “We had a great turnout for our first Luncheon and Purse Auction and a tremendous amount of fun!  We were able to raise all the funds needed to complete the sign project,” stated Diana Huckstep, who serves on the fund raising committee. “We are hoping that the ladies will turn out for this years Luncheon and Purse Auction to help us raise the funds needed to place the Blue Star Memorial.  The military is near and dear to my heart and it is a privilege to do something to honor our service men and women,” stated Huckstep.

The Luncheon and Purse Auction will take place at the Steamboat Bistro located at 123 So. 3rd St. in Louisiana, MO.  Doors will open at 11:30, lunch will be served at 12:15 and the Auction will begin at 1:15. Auctioneers are Don and Sue Beck of B&B Auctions.

Tickets are $20.00 per person in advance or $25.00 at the door.  Advanced tickets can be purchased at the Louisiana Library.  Library hours are Tues., Wed. and Thurs. 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. or by calling Joyce Lewis, Club President at 636-443-5188 or Diana Huckstep at 314-640-4420.  There will be door prizes and a 50/50 drawing during the Auction.  If you would like to attend just the Auction, there is a door charge of just $10.00. All funds raised will go to the purchase of the Blue Star Memorial.