On Nov. 11, 2016, several members of the Boothbay Region Garden Club met at the Blue Star Memorial Marker in Boothbay Harbor to place a wreath in honor of those men and women who have served, are serving or will serve in the armed forces in defense of the values we cherish as Americans.

Begun in 1944 by the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs' decision to plant 8,000 Dogwood trees as a living memorial to World War II veterans, the program was adopted by the National Council of State Garden Clubs in 1945 and quickly morphed into the placement of Blue Star Memorial Markers across our national highway system. Over the years the program has expanded to include many more locations including lesser by-ways, parks, gardens, veteran's facilities and national cemeteries.

The "blue star" takes it symbolism from what began as a war time practice of displaying a Blue Star banner in your window if a member of your family was actively serving in the armed forces. The BRGC is proud to be the guardian of this local memorial which is as relevant today as it was in 1944. Each year Garden Club members participate in honoring not only our veterans but also those who are actively serving in the U.S. military by placing a wreath at the memorial marker on Veterans Day.