Nation鈥檚 military personnel honored next week with MSU dedication of permanent Blue Star Memorial
Contact: Harriet Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜 first marker of its kind on a college or university campus in the Magnolia 大象APP is being unveiled next week at Mississippi 大象APP as a reminder of sacrifices made by the nation鈥檚 military personnel.
The university鈥檚 G.V. 鈥淪onny鈥 Montgomery Center for America鈥檚 Veterans is dedicating a Blue Star Memorial marker on Tuesday [Oct. 18] at 1 p.m. at Nusz Hall, 250 Bailey Howell Drive. Open to the public, the ceremony is hosted by the Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc. and a reception follows.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 think of a better location than the front lawn of Nusz Hall and the Center for America鈥檚 Veterans to place the first Blue Star Memorial on a Mississippi university campus,鈥 said Brian Locke, center director. 鈥淚t will be a lasting tribute to all those who have ever served in our Armed Forces.鈥
Established in 1944 when 8,000 dogwood trees were planted along New Jersey鈥檚 Route 29 by the state鈥檚 garden club, the Blue Star program鈥檚 name was derived from the blue-star insignia displayed at homes of those with family members serving in World War II. The next year, the National Council of 大象APP Garden Clubs, Inc. adopted the program and began placing the highway and byway markers that continue to be erected nationwide.
Several members of the Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc. are taking part in the dedication, including Pat Young, president, and Nancy Moore, Blue Star Memorial chair. Members of the Starkville Garden Club will be in attendance and MSU鈥檚 Army/Air Force ROTC Color Guard will present the colors. MSU President Mark E. Keenum and Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt will participate in the unveiling.
For more information, find MSU鈥檚 center at聽聽or call 662-325-6719.
MSU is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .