The Cherokee Rose Garden Club along with members of the State Garden Club, National Garden Club, local and state elected officials and local veterans gathered in front of the former National Guard Armory facility in Centre on Thursday afternoon to officially unveil and dedicate a Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker which sits along Armory Road near the East Bypass.

The dedication ceremony featured retired Lt. Colonel David Hartline, a Cherokee County veteran and President of the State American Legion Post along with Corporal Dewayne Amos an army veteran and Cherokee County Circuit Clerk as guest speakers. The event also included members of the Centre Fire Department and Cherokee County Fire Department Honor Guard presenting the colors and the Centre Middle School chorus who sang the National Anthem along with other selections honoring those that have served.

The Blue Star Marker program began in 1941 to honor the men and women in the U.S. Armed Services. The markers can be found not only on highways, but also in parks, veteran centers, hospitals and cemeteries.

The Blue Star Memorial program began with the planting of 8,000 Dogwood trees by the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs as a living memorial to veterans of World War II. In 1945, the National Council of State Garden Clubs adopted the program and began a Blue Star Highway system that covers thousands of miles across the Continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii.

The Blue Star became an icon in World War II and was seen on flags and banners in homes for sons and daughters away at war, and in churches and businesses.

Special Thanks: to the Northeast Alabama Federation of Garden Clubs for purchasing the marker; to Mayor Tony Wilkie and the Centre City Council for providing placement for the marker; to Debra Guy for the printed invitations; to Danny Miller for PA system; to the Centre Fire Department for use of the tent shelter; to Centre Middle School chorus; Shannon at the Lilly Pad Florist for the flowers; to John Holbrook for the shrubs and mulch; to Bill Knoght for the chairs; to Rev. Jeff Davis for offering prayers; to the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce for the ribbon cutting; to members of the Cherokee Rose Garden Club for their work and volunteering on the project; to all those in the community that helped in any way to make this ceremony a success; and finally to our veterans, active millitary and Gold Star families, without your brave work and sacrifice, we would not have the freedom we enjoy today! Thank You!

You can listen to the ceremony by clicking the link below: