Site Designed by Vina

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.

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

Upon site 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.

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 MEMORIAL MARKER LOCATIONS

1. CARLISLE INTERCHANGE Located near the Carlisle Interchange milepost 226.54. 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 that was dedicated in 1953. Replanting done in 1984 and the sign was replaced. Small Marker (PA Turnpike)

2. IRWIN INTERCHANGE Located near the Irwin interchange at milepost 67.22. Irwin to Carlisle was the corresponding end of the original plantings. This sign was originally installed in 1953 and the sign was replaced in 1984 Small Marker (PA Turnpike)

3. KING OF PRUSSIA Located at the intersection of Route 202 and South Gulph Road on the southeast corner. Sponsored by the Wayne Woods Garden Club District I and dedicated October 25, 1976. Removed during construction and refurbished in 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) Sponsored by District VII and dedicated May 30, 1991. Post replaced and sign refurbished in August 2008 by PA Turnpike Memorial Highway Marker (PA Turnpike)

5. NORTH SOMERSET SERVICE PLAZA Located at milepost 112.37 westbound. Sponsored by District VI and Dedicated on May 30 1991 Memorial Highway Marker (PA Turnpike)

6. SOUTH SOMERSET SERVICE PLAZA Located at milepost 112.33 eastbound. Sponsored by District VI and dedicated on May 30, 1991 Memorial Highway Marker (PA Turnpike)

7. VALLEY FORGE SERVICE PLAZA Located at milepost 324.59 eastbound Sponsored by District I and dedicated on January 24 1992 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. Sponsored by District VII and dedicated on June 2, 1993. This marker was dedicated to those who served in the Persian Gulf War. Memorial Highway Marker (PA Turnpike)

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

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

11. ZELIENOPLE Located at milepost 21.70 Eastbound Sponsored by District IX and dedicated August 25, 2006 Memorial Highway Marker (PA Turnpike)

12. EDDYSTONE- Located at Boeing Company Sponsored by District 1 Dedicated November 8, 2006 Memorial Highway Marker (PennDOT)

13. CLARION Located at Clarion Memorial Park at the corner of Main St and 5th Avenue Sponsored by Garden Club of Clarion District VIII and dedicated Nov 11, 2006 By-way Marker

14. DRUMS Located at 149 South Hunter Highway (Route 309 on the grounds of the Providence Place Retirement Community and placed between two wooden stakes in front of a donated tree Sponsored by Hazleton Garden Club of District II/III and dedicated April 2007 By-way Marker

15. MUNHALL Located 510 East 10th Avenue in the Good Grief Center Memorial Garden at the Carnegie Library of Homestead. Sponsored by the Garden Club of Munhall District X and dedicated April 14, 2007 By-Way Marker

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

17. ALLENTOWN Located at the Wire Mill Park Sponsored by Allentown Garden Club of District II/III and dedicated April 27, 2007 By-Way Marker

18. SPRINGFIELD, DELAWARE COUNTY Located 331 W Springfield Road at the Veterans Memorial Park Sponsored by District I and dedicated on April 27, 2007 Memorial Marker

19. BRIDGEVILLE Located at Rest Area on Interstate 79 10 miles south of Pittsburgh Sponsored by District X (Pittsburgh) and dedicated on April 29, 2008 at twin dedication. Dual Side Memorial Highway Marker (PennDOT)

20. BRIDGEVILLE Located at Rest Area on Interstate 79 10 miles south of Pittsburgh Sponsored by District X (Pittsburgh) and dedicated on April 29, 2008 at twin dedication. Dual Side Memorial Highway Marker (PennDOT)

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

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

23. EDGEWOOD Located at Edgewood Memorial Park Sponsored by Edgewood Garden Club District VII and dedicated May 27, 2007 By-way Marker

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

25. FARMINGTON Located at Summit Mountain National Pike Rd Route 40 East Farmington, PA at Point Look Out Sponsored by Great Meadows Garden Club District X and dedicated July 2, 2007 Memorial Highway Marker (PennDOT)

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

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

28. MIDDLETOWN Located near Harrisburg at PA. Turnpike Headquarters in Lower Swatara Township Sponsored by the G.C. of Harrisburg and PA Turnpike Commission and dedicated on August 29, 2007 Memorial Highway Marker (PA Turnpike)

29. MIDWAY SERVICE PLAZA Located near Bedford at mile marker 147.32 Sponsored Bedford Garden Club District VI and dedicated October 2007 Memorial Highway Marker (PA Turnpike)

30. MIDWAY SERVICE PLAZA Located at mile marker 147.32 Sponsored by District VI with a donation for the marker and dedicated October 2007 Memorial Highway Marker (PA Turnpike)

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

32. HUNTINGDON Located at the 700 block on Penn Street at the Huntingdon Conservancy Garden in the 700 block on Penn Street. Sponsored by Standing Stone Garden Club District V and dedicated on November 11, 2007 By-way Marker

33. HANOVER Located at 725 Baltimore Street at the south entrance to Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Sponsored by the YWCA of Hanover Garden Club. District IV and dedicated on May 17, 2008 By-Way Marker

34. GERMANTOWN PIKE Located on Germantown Pike at intersection of North Wales Road on the Norristown Farm Park. Sponsored by Norristown Garden Club, District XI and dedicated on June 14, 2008 Memorial Highway Marker (County)

35. SIDELING HILL SERVICE PLAZA Located at milepost 172.36 eastbound and westbound (dual side service plaza) Sponsored by the Chambersburg Garden Club District IV and dedicated August 26, 2008 Memorial Highway Marker (PA Turnpike)

36. CHAMBERSBURG Located at Stouffer Avenue Entrance at Chambersburg Memorial Park. Sponsored by Norland Garden Club of Chambersburg, District IV and dedicated September 6, 2008 By-Way Marker

37. WILLIAMSPORT Located on Route 5 South of Williamsport at Scenic Overlook sponsored by District V and Dedicated September 13, 2008 Memorial Highway Marker (PennDOT)

38. SHALER Located at Shaler Area Middle School on Royal Mount Rd, Shaler Township. Sponsored by the Shaler Garden Club, District IX and dedicated on November 5, 2008 By-Way Marker

39. LEEPER Located at Farmington Community Park, Route 36 E. Sponsored by Wildflower Garden Club, District VIII and dedicated on November 11, 2008 By-Way Marker

40. By-way Marker at Northland Library, sponsored by Ingomar Garden Club, District IX, dedicated June 5, 2009.

41. YORK, PA Located at Sovereign Bank Stadium, York, PA. By-way Marker, sponsored by the Garden Club of York, District IV, dedicated June 13, 2009.

42. POTTSTOWN, PA Located in Memorial Park in Pottstown, PA. By-way Marker, sponsored by the Pottstown Garden Club, District II/III, dedicated July 3, 2009.

43. Located at the Park and Ride, sponsored by District I and PennDOT

Tally as of October 16, 2009

Installed Markers

Original small markers--2 (Irwin, Carlisle)

Memorial Markers 2 (Butler, Springfield)

Highway Markers—23

Turnpike--12
Penn Dot--10
Private (Boeing , Norristown)- 2

By-way Markers--16

Total in Pennsylvania--43 Installed Markers

Markers Ordered but not yet installed

Highway Marker – By District I

New Stanton Service Plaza, PA Turnpike – by GCFP

Memorial Park, By –Way Marker – by Garden Club of McKeesport

Ligonier Park, Memorial Marker – by Seeders and Weeders GC

Oil City Park, By-Way Marker – By Oil City GC

Derry Township Community Park – By way Marker – by Mifflin Garden Club

Flight 93 Memorial Park – Memorial Marker by GCFP and Somerset Garden Club

Route 70 Penn Dot Welcome Center – by District X pending approval by Penn Dot

ORDERING INFORMATION

Please Note New Prices Effective May 1, 2010

These Prices will be good through May 2012

HIGHWAY MARKER: Cost $1250, Overall height when erected is 7’ 6”. The Plate is 41”high by 45” wide. To be placed on dedicated highways.
MEMORIAL MARKER: Cost $1250, Overall height when erected is 7' 6”. The plate is 41” high by 45” wide. To be placed in National Cemeteries, Veterans Medical Centers and other civic locations.
BY-WAY MARKER: Cost $410, Plaque is 12” by 20” (for mounting on masonry or wood) To be placed in civic gardens, parks, and historical sites.

West coast shipping fee: $50.00 additional fee

(Any location west of MN, IA, MO, AR, LA western state lines)

Markers needed along the PA Turnpike

to complete the Service Plazas