A Blue Star Memorial Plaque will be dedicated to the City of Carmel and Clay Township at 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon at the John W. Hensel Government Center, 10701 N. College Ave. Phyllis Grzeskowiak of The Broad Ripple Garden Club, National Blue Star Chair Jayne Kesler, Clay Township Trustee Doug Callahan and other distinguished guests will be present.
The Blue & Gold Star Memorials Program honors all men and women who serve in the United States Armed Services. The 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.
In 1945, the National Council of State Garden Clubs adopted this program and began a Blue Star Highway system that covers thousands of miles across the Continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii. A large metal Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker was placed at appropriate locations along the way.
The Blue Star became an icon in World War II and was seen on flags and banners in homes for sons and daughters away at war, and in churches and businesses. This program has been active all through the years to the present, a fitting tribute to the Armed Forces.