The Blue Star Memorial honors service men and women. 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 the veterans of World War II. In 1945, the National Council of State Garden Clubs adopted the program and began the Blue Star Highway system, which covers thousands of miles across the United States, including Alaska & Hawaii. A large metal Highway Marker was placed at appropriate locations along the way.
The program was expanded to include all men and women who had served, were serving and would serve in the armed services of the United States. Centralia Flower and Garden Club constructed and dedicated our Memorial in the Centralia Cemetery along State Highway 22 on June 30, 2006. Missouri just dedicated its 54th Blue Star Memorial.