Adopted as a national program, the Blue Star markers can be seen all over the country - along highways, in public gardens, and at highway rest stops.

The Blue Star itself was a recognized icon during World War II. Families would display a banner in a window of their home with one blue star representing each son or daughter serving in the military. This is the inspiration for the Blue Star Memorial.

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1979...
On December 14th, 1979, the Pinelands Garden Club of Medford, Inc. in coordination with the NJ Department of Transportation established Route 70 as a Blue Star Memorial By-way. The site was in the middle of the "old Medford Circle", which is now the intersection of Rt. 70 and Main St./Rt. 541.

Shown in the picture standing on the right, is the original project chairperson, Jeanette Johnson of Medford.

Unfortunately, due to the widening of Rt. 70 in 1996, the site was lost, and so was the sign.

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2004...
In 2004 (25 years later), under the leadership of Jeanette Johnson once more, a new Blue Star site was constructed in Medford. The NJ Dept. of Transportation (NJDOT)was able to locate and place a sign at the site which was similar to the original one that was removed from the Medford Circle. Under the direction of George Caruso of NJDOT, the site was planted as a living memorial, with two dogwood trees (cornus florida), an eastern redbud, and inkberry hollies.
A flagpole was placed, and also a bluebird house, which happened to have its very first "family" move in just months later!

A rededication ceremony was held on November 8, 2004. The site of the new Blue Star Memorial By-way sits along Rt. 70 West near the Chairville Road intersection.

The rededication of the memorial represented a collaboration between the Pinelands Garden Club of Medford, Inc., The NJ Department of Transportation, and The Garden Club of NJ, Inc.
(Click on photo to enlarge....Jeanette Johnson is on the left.)

Veterans, public officials, garden club members and the public were present at the rededication event which began at the Medford Leas retirement community and concluded with a wreath-laying at the memorial site.

  
Members of NJ's Blue Star Memorial Council. David Byers, NJDOT and Staff Sgt. Barbara Harbison

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Today's Blue Star memorials have been expanded to honor all men and women who are serving, have served and will serve in America's Armed Forces.

2005 and beyond...
The Blue Star Memorial By-Way site continues to be be developed and maintained by the Pinelands Garden Club of Medford and the NJ Department of Transportation.

Our club's goal is to make Route 70 a "corridor of beauty" using our native plants as a memorial to our service men and women.

Each major national holiday, a serviceperson is honored at the site with a wreath-laying. On Memorial Day 2005, club member Lois C. laid a wreath in memory of her late husband.



LET US NEVER FORGET
The Armed Forces, defenders of our liberty and protectors of our freedom. They have paid for our freedom by the sacrifice of their lives, great acts of courage, bravery and scars from the battlefield. Let us never forget them and "Let Freedom Ring Throughout Our Land Forever."
GOD BLESS AMERICA



The Pinelands Garden Club of Medford, Inc., is a member club of the Garden Club of New Jersey. (GCNJ). The GCNJ, in cooperation with the Rutgers Gardens in New Brunswick, NJ, has created a memorial, The Freedom Trail of Great Americans.