Trees

PA Blue Star Memorials

BLUE STAR MEMORIAL HISTORY

During World War II the country became committed to supporting the war efforts by erecting war memorials. Generally these were stone or bronze statues or buildings and commemorated a hero or specific battle. Garden Club members visualized a living memorial, and in 1945 the project was born with 8,000 Dogwood trees being planted by the New Jersey Council of State Garden Clubs. The following year the NCSGC adopted the program.

This nationwide living memorial projected a ribbon of dedicated highways across the country in every state with markers at appropriate locations such as state lines, entrance to towns, intersections, and rest areas. A blue star should be the centerpiece of the memorial sign. This was chosen because it symbolizes the Blue Star on the World War II service flag, which hung in so many homes of service men and women as a tribute.

Garden Club members immediately responded to this program. The first step in placing a marker was to petition the state legislature to designate a section of highway in that state as a segment of the Blue Star Memorial Highway. Upon approval, garden clubs could then purchase a marker and plan the landscaping at the memorial site. NGC policy favored naturalistic plantings of diversified indigenous trees and shrubs to blend with the existing landscape at the location.

The site would have to meet with the approval of the state highway commission and the highway department.

When completed the Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker, with the appropriate plantings, would identify the memorial route.

In 1994 again at the NCSGC convention, a need for a smaller marker was accepted that would serve the same purpose. This Marker would include the words, “A tribute to the armed forces of America and signify the parent sponsoring organization National Garden Clubs Inc. on the bottom of the marker. This would be called the By-way Marker.

Currently there are still three choices of markers-

NCG Awards for Blue Stare Memorial Landscaping Information 

 

GCFP BLUE STAR MARKERS LOCATION
 

1. CARLISLE TO IRWIN is the original location of a small By-way type marker dedicating 160-mile stretch of the PA. Turnpike, as part of the original Transcontinental Blue Star Memorial Highway. Flowering Dogwood trees were planted along the stretch of the toll road and dedicated 1953 Located near the Carlisle Interchange milepost 226.54. Replanting done in 1984 and the sign was placed.

2. IRWIN TO CARLISLE the corresponding end of the original plantings and the sign also placed in 1984 at milepost 67.22.

3. KING OF PRUSSIA Located at the intersection of Route 202 and South Gulph Road on the southeast corner. Dedicated October 25, 1976 by the Wayne Woods Garden Club District I. Removed during construction and refurbished 2004-Rededicated October 18, 2005 Memorial Highway Marker (PennDOT)

4. SIDELING HILL SERVICE PLAZA Located at milepost 172.36 eastbound and westbound (dual side service plaza) Dedicated May 30 1991 by District VII

5. NORTH SOMERSET SERVICE PLAZA At milepost 112.37 westbound. Dedicated on May 30 1991 by District VI Memorial Highway Markers (PA Turnpike)

6. SOUTH SOMERSET SERVICE PLAZA At milepost 112.33 eastbound. Dedicated on May 30, 1991 by District VI Memorial Highway Markers (PA Turnpike)

7. VALLEY FORGE SERVICE PLAZA At milepost 324.59 eastbound on January 24 1992 by District I Memorial Highway Marker (PA Turnpike)

8. GREENSBURG Located at the interchange of route 30 and the Amos K. Hutchinson By-Pass (now route 66 )6 miles north of the turnpike exit milepost 75.5. Dedicated on June 2,1993. By District VII This Memorial Highway Marker was dedicated to those who served in the Persian Gulf War. (PA Turnpike)

9. JEFFERSON HILLS BORO along the Mon-Fayette Expressway located at northern end of the Turnpike at exit 43 near Large, PA milepost 52.2. Dedicated on October 28,2003 by District X Memorial Highway Marker (PA Turnpike)

10. LEHIGH VALLEY SERVICE PLAZA Located near the Allentown exit of the Turnpike milepost 355.90 (dual side plaza) Dedicated April 6, 2005 by District II with assist from a donation Memorial Highway Marker (PA. Turnpike)

11. PITTSBURGH Located at milepost 21.70 Eastbound at Zelienople Dedicated August 25, 2006 by District IX Memorial Highway Marker (PA Turnpike)

12. EDDYSTONE- Dedicated November 8, 2006 District I Highway Marker (Boeing Co)

13. CLARION Garden Club of Clarion District VIII Dedicated Nov 11 2006 By-way Marker

14. DRUMS Providence Place Retirement Community 18222 Sponsored by Hazleton Garden Club of District II/III By-way Marker April 2007

15. MUNHALL PA, Good Grief Center Memorial Garden, Carnegie Library of Homestead 10th Avenue by Garden Club of Munhall of District X By-way Marker April 14, 2007

16. Pennsylvania Route 95 and 92 near Wilmington, Delaware Sponsored by club member of Four Seasons of Kennett Square District I Highway Marker (PennDot) April 18, 2007

17. ALLENTOWN PA, at the Wire Mill Park sponsored by Allentown Garden Club of District II/III By-way Marker April 27,2007

18. SPRINGFIELD Veterans Memorial Park Springfield Road Delaware County District I, Memorial Marker April 27,2007

19. BRIDGEVILLE April 29, 2007 Interstate 79 10 miles south of Pittsburgh Dual side Highway Markers dedicated at twin dedication District X (Pittsburgh) Highway Marker

20. BRIDGEVILLE District X (Pittsburgh) Highway Marker located southbound at Bridgeville April 29, 2007

21. LANCASTER Located at Clipper Stadium at the base of the right entry steps sponsored by Town and Country Garden Club District IV By-way Marker May 19, 2007

22. SCHNECKSVILLE Located at the Lehigh County Zoo (near Eagles) sponsored by Parkland Garden Club District II/III By-way Marker May 24, 2007

23. EDGEWOOD Edgewood Memorial Park sponsored by Edgewood Garden Club of District VII By-way Marker May 27,2007

24. BUTLER Located at the Butler VA Medical Center 325 New Castle Rd Butler PA sponsored by Butler Garden Club of District IX Memorial Marker May 28, 2007

25. FARMINGTON Located at Point Lookout Summit Mountain National Pike Rd Route 40 East Farmington, PA Great Meadows Garden Club District IX Highway (PennDot) July 2,2007

26. OAKMONT SERVICE PLAZA Located at mile marker 49.33 Sponsored by District IX Highway Marker (PA Turnpike) Dedicated July 19,2007

27. EDINBORO Located at the rest area northbound Interstate 79 Edinboro, PA
Sponsored by District VIII (PennDOT) Highway August 27,2007

28. MIDDLETOWN Near Harrisburg at PA. Turnpike Headquarters Lower Swatara Township Middletown, PA sponsored by the G.C. of Harrisburg and PA Turnpike- Highway Marker August 29, 2007

29. MIDWAY SERVICE PLAZA Near Bedford mile marker 147.32 Sponsored by District VI Bedford Garden Club Highway Marker (PA.Turnpike) October 2007

30. MIDWAY SERVICE PLAZA Mile marker 147.32 Sponsored by District VI with a donation for the second marker (Highway Marker) Dedicated October 2007

31. JOHNSTOWN Located at the Johnstown War Memorial 326 Napoleon St Sponsored by The Garden Club of Johnstown District VI, By-way Marker November 8,2007

32. HUNTINGTON Conservancy Garden in the 700 block on Penn Street in the Borough of Huntingdon Sponsored by Standing Stone Garden Club By-way Marker District V November 11,2007

 

Tally as of December 1, 2007
Installed Markers

 

Original small markers--2
Memorial Markers 2
Highway Markers--19

By-way Markers--9

 

Total in Pennsylvania--32 Installed Markers

 

Markers Ordered

 

ORDERING INFORMATION
 
Markers needed along the PA Turnpike to complete the Service Plazas

For further information please contact the State Blue Star Marker Chairman

Corinne Babson

(412) 780-5315

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