The Mountain View Gard eners Garden Club recently partnered with Dr. John L. Gravitte to sponsor M ount Airy’s first Blue Star Memorial Highway. A patriotic dedication ceremo ny is slated for Friday, November 9, ahead of a full schedule of local even ts for Veteran’s Day weekend.
The Blue Star became an icon in World W ar II for the blue star in the service flag which hung in the windows of ho mes, churches and businesses to honor the sons and daughters away at war. T he Blue Star program began in 1944 with the planting of 8,000 dogwood trees by the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs as a living memorial to veterans of World War II. The National Garden Clubs adopted the program in 1945 and began the Blue Star Highway system that not only represents thousands of m iles across the Continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii, but also bega n recognizing all members-past, present, and future, of the United States A rmed Forces. There are currently over 3,000 Blue Star Memorial Marker Highw ays nationwide. Paula Hartman, Chairman of North Carolina’s Blue Star Memor ial Highway program, shared that Mount Airy’s dedication will mark the 100t h Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker for our state.
Mount Airy native and co-sponsor of the marker, Dr. Gravitte recently stated, “The Blue Star program is a special tribute to all of the men and women who have and conti nue to serve our country. Every person in our community either knows or is related to a Veteran or active service member and we are honored to have th is opportunity to show our support locally to all who have defended our fre edoms and continue to do so. It’s been a privilege to partner with Mount Ai ry’s first Garden Club on this endeavor, the ladies of Mountain View Garden ers have worked diligently along with city and state officials to help achi eve this commemorative event for Veterans Day weekend. We are so grateful t o be a part of this incredible community!”
The public is invited to a ttend the ceremony being held at Mount Airy’s First Presbyterian Church at 326 S. Main Street at 3pm on Friday, November 9. The Blue Star Memorial Mar ker unveiling will immediately follow at Lowry Park at the intersection of Main Street and W. Pine Street, officially dedicating Highway 89 as a Blue Star Memorial Highway.
For more information contact Amanda Fretwell a t 336-755-2755.
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