Blue and Gold Star Memorials – Garden Clubs Honoring Those Who Have Served Our Country
The Blue and Gold Star Memorials 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 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 has been placed at appropriate locations along the way.
What we see today is a program that has expanded to include all men and women who had served, were serving or would serve in the armed services of the United States. Memorial Markers and By-Way markers were added to the Highway Markers, to be used at locations such as National cemeteries, parks, veteran’s facilities, and gardens. 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 our Armed Forces and especially now.
Forms and Additional Information:
- Do you want a garden club to support a Blue or Gold Star Marker in your community? Contact Chris Seal, TGCI Blue Star Memorials Chairman, justusseal@hotmail.com
- To donate or to install a Blue Star Marker, a Byway Marker or a Gold Star Family Marker: Download the form (below), follow directions, and submit to:
Chris Seal, TGCI Blue Star Memorials Chairman, justusseal@hotmail.com - Guidelines for Blue and Gold Star Memorials
- Blue Star Memorial Order Form
- Gold Star Family Memorial Order Form
- Blue Star Memorials Contribution Form
- Also see additional information on the National Garden Clubs, Inc. website.
Blue Star Memorials In Indiana (according to the National Garden Clubs, Inc. – list updated July 2020):
| Date Established | Location | Garden Club Responsible for the Site |
| 2/21/1950 | Richmond, IN | Garden Club of Indiana |
| 2/21/1950 | Terre Haute, IN | Garden Club of Indiana |
| 4/18/1985 | Nashville, IN | Garden Club of Indiana |
| 4/18/1985 | New Castle, IN | Garden Club of Indiana |
| 12/9/1987 | Hobart, IN | Hobart Garden Club |
| 4/29/1991 | South Bend, IN | Garden Club of Michiana |
| 6/20/1991 | Pendelton, IN | Garden Club of Indiana |
| 4/3/1992 | Indianapolis, IN | Garden Club of Indiana |
| 5/31/1996 | Interstate 70 W, Near Plainfield Exit, Plainfield, IN | Hendricks County Garden Club |
| 2/13/1997 | Hardinsburg, IN | Arts & Flowers Garden Club |
| 3/9/1998 | Interstate 70 E, Near Plainfield Exit, Plainfield, IN | Garden Club of Indiana |
| 8/24/1998 | Dyer, IN | Garden Club of Indiana |
| 1/18/1999 | Paoli, IN | Dirt Diggers Garden Club |
| 1/28/1999 | Columbus, IN | Flower Lane Garden Club |
| 3/4/1999 | Hardinsburg, IN | Garden Club of Indiana |
| 1/8/2001 | Peru, IN | Garden Club of Indiana |
| 2/10/2005 | Marion, IN | Garden Club of Marion |
| 12/22/2008 | Valparaiso, IN | Vale of Paradise Garden Club |
| 7/13/2009 | Gilbert Park, Portage, IN | Portage Garden Club |
| 1/10/2012 | VFW Post 1114, Evansville, IN | Garden Club of Indiana |
| 4/30/2012 | CR 200 S and S. Dan Jones Rd., (Center of Roundabout) Avon, IN | Hendricks County Garden Club (Inherited from the Plainfield Garden Club) |
| 6/22/2013 | Gibson County Fairgrounds, Princeton, IN | Green Thumb Garden Club |
| 8/1/2013 | Lincoln State Park, Lincoln City, IN | Christmas Lake Village Garden Club |
| 9/14/2013 | Black River Rest Area on I-64 near Griff, Princeton, IN | Green Thumb Garden Club of Princeton |
| 9/14/2013 | Gibson County Fairgrounds, Princeton, IN | Green Thumb Garden Club of Princeton |
| 6/1/2014 | Veterans Memorial Park, 303 W. Henry St., Syracuse, IN | Syracuse-Wawasee Garden Club |
| 11/1/2014 | Eastside Park, Eastside Park Dr., Washington, IN | Washington Arts & Flowers Garden Club |
| 11/9/2014 | Decatur County Courthouse Square; Hwy 46-Greensburg, IN | Give un Take & Greensburg Nightbloomer Garden Clubs |
| 7/1/2015 | Hobart Historical Society, 706 E. 4th St., Hobart, IN | Hobart Garden Club |
| 3/2/2016 | 200W. Main St., Winamac, IN | Iris‐Elm Garden Club |
| 4/11/2016 | Civic Center, 200 Block Main St.,Sullivan, IN | Sullivan County Garden Club |
| 4/19/2016 | Matter Park Circle, Marion, IN | The Garden Club of Marion |
| 4/20/2016 | 9301 Madison, Crown Point, IN | North West District, The Garden Club of Indiana |
| 6/16/2016 | Corner of Manor Ave. & Ridge Rd.,Munster, IN | Munster Garden Club |
| 6/16/2016 | Roudebush VA Medical Center, 1481 W 10th St.,Indianapolis,IN | The Garden Club of Indiana |
| 4/12/2017 | Wellfield Botanic Gardens, Elkhart, IN | The Four Winds Garden Club |
| 7/23/2017 | Crown Point Courthouse Square– Corner of Court & Joliet St, Crown Point, IN | Crown Point Garden Club |
| 7/23/2017 | Gateway Drive, HWY 50 East, along sidewalk (east), Washington, IN | Washington Arts & Flowers Garden Club |
| 5/5/2019 | Clay Township Government Center, 10701 Twp. Gov. Center, Indianapolis, IN | Broad Ripple Garden Club |
*Note – There are an additional 16 Blue Star Memorial Markers in Indiana posted between 1950 and 2005. Their locations are unknown. If you know of a marker not listed above, please contact the TGCI Blue Star Chairman at the contact above.