The Blue Star and Gold Star Memorial Marker program was begun in 1944 when 8,000 dogwood trees were planted by the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs as a “living memorial” to WWII veterans. In 1945, National Garden Clubs adopted the program and called it the Blue Star Memorial Highway program.
Each Blue Star Memorial Marker has a plaque stating, “A tribute to our armed forces”. Each Gold Star Memorial Marker has a plaque stating, “A tribute to all Gold Star Families”.
In 1981, Blue and Gold Star Memorial By-Way Markers were added to the program to allow markers to be placed in parks, gardens, veterans’ cemeteries, and other public areas. Since 1945, gardens clubs belonging to NGC have placed over 3,000 markers along major highways covering 70,000 miles. New markers are placed each year, adding even more miles.
The Blue and Gold Star Memorial Marker program is managed by National Garden Clubs, Inc. If you would like more information about how to raise funds to install a marker, please feel free to reach out to Carol Parrott, AFGC Blue and Gold Star Memorial Chairman. You can also visit the NGC website at: Blue and Gold Memorials.
Blue and Gold Star Memorial Markers – 2026
- Nogales 1956 – Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker
US 80 (I-19) – 3 miles N. of Nogales AZ
- Red Pueblo Museum – 1956 – Blue Star Memorial Marker
Removed from Hwy 89A 2012 – Utah border road under construction
1140 N. Hwy 89A, Fredonia AZ
New Blue Star Memorial Marker dedicated Fall, 2021
Arizona Federation of Garden Clubs
- Drake – Hell’s Canyon Bridge 1958 – Blue Star Memorial Marker
US 89, 35 miles N. of Prescott AZ
- Mohawk Rest Area 1961 – Blue Star Memorial Marker
Federated Garden Clubs of Yuma
I-8 milepost 56 (needs restoration)
- Tucson – Blue Star Memorial Marker
US 90 and 6th St. near I-10 junction
- National Memorial Cemetery 1997 – Blue Star Memorial Marker
Arizona Federation of Garden Clubs
22302 N. Cave Creek Rd., Cave Creek AZ
- Mesa Community College 2005 – Blue Star Memorial Marker
Arizona Federation of Garden Clubs
1833 W. Southern Ave., Mesa AZ (needs restoration)
- Pinal Co. Historical Society & Museum 2008 – Blue Star Memorial Marker
Town and Country Garden Club
7155 S. Main St., Florence AZ
- Yuma Armed Forces Park 2009 – Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker
Federated Garden Clubs of Yuma
281 Gila St., Yuma AZ
- San Carlos Park 2010 – Blue Star Memorial Marker
Town and County Garden Club
300 W. Central, Coolidge AZ
- Superstition Mountain Museum 2011 – Blue Star Memorial Marker
Gold Canyon Garden Club
4087 E. Apache Trail, Apache Junction AZ
- Ahwatukee Park 2012 – Blue Star Memorial Marker
Desert Pointe Garden Club
4700 E. Warner Rd, Ahwatukee AZ
- Yuma Civic Center 2012 – Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker
Yuma Garden Club
1440 Desert Hills Dr. Yuma AZ
- Tempe Beach Park 2013 – Blue Star Memorial Marker
Tempe Garden Club
80 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe AZ
- Rowie P. Simmons Community Center 2014 – Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker
Alta Vista Garden Club
1280 E. Rosser St., Prescott AZ
- McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park 2014 – Blue Star Memorial Marker
Scottsdale Garden Club
7301 E. Indian Bend Red., Scottsdale AZ
- Sun Lakes Country Club 2017 – Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker
Weeders Garden Club
25601 E. Sun Lakes Blvd., Chandler AZ
- Sedona Library 2017 – Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker
High Desert Designers
3250 White Bear Rd. Sedona AZ
- Robert J. Moody Demonstration Garden 2021 – Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker
Moody Garden Club
2200 W. 28th St., Yuma AZ
- Boyce Thompson Arboretum 2021 – Blue Star Memorial Marker
Gold Canyon Garden Club
37615 E. Arboretum Way, Superior AZ
- Lewis Kingman Park 2024 – Blue Star Memorial Marker
Cerbat Garden Club
2201 Andy Devine Ave., Kingman AZ
- Yuma Co. Foothills Community Park 2024 – Gold Star Memorial By-Way Marker
Yuma Orchid & African Violet Society
13340 E. South Frontage Rd., Yuma, AZ
- Litchfield City Ctr. Complex at Litchfield Square Park 2025 – Blue Star Memorial Marker
Blue Star Moms of the Southwest Vallery
279 N. La Loma Ave., Litchfield Park AZ
- Silly Mountain Park 2025 – Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker
Gold Canyon Garden Club
3565 S. Silly Mt. Rd., Gold Canyon AZ
- Veteran’s Memorial at Locomotive Park 2026 – Gold Star Memorial Marker
Cerbat Garden Club
310 W. Beale St. Rt. 66, Kingman AZ
- Doc Moc Park 2026 – Blue Star Memorial Marker
Arizona Federation of Garden Clubs & City of Patagonia
399 McKeown Ave., Patagonia AZ
- Southern Arizona Veteran’s Cemetery – Blue Star Memorial Marker
Tucson Garden Club
1300 S. Buffalo Soldier Trail, Sierra Vista AZ
Carol Parrott, AFGC Blue and Gold Star Memorial Chairman
Photos by Karen Bowen
Photo 1
Moody Garden Club – Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker at Robert J. Moody Demonstration Garden
Photo 2
Yuma Garden Club – Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker at Yuma Civic Ctr.
Photo 3
Yuma Orchid & African Violet Society – Gold Star Memorial By-Way Marker
Photo 4 Carol Parrott
AFGC and the town of Patagonia – Blue Star Memorial Marker
