The Daily Guide reports that Waynesville, Mo., over the weekend dedicated its portion of Route 66 through downtown as a Blue Star Memorial Highway.
Named after the service flags flown during World War II placing a single blue star for each person serving in the military on a flag flown outside the homes of their family members back home, the Blue Star Memorial Highway program began after the war by garden clubs in New Jersey whose members wanted to commemorate veterans of that war. State officials from the memorial program said there are now 1,325 markers placed around the United States, 32 of them in Missouri, with another eight Missouri markers planned by the end of the year.
Donna Lantry, the Blue Star Memorial chairwoman for Missouri, said U.S. Routes 40, 50, 66, and 67 were the originally designated memorial routes; I-44, I-36, and I-70 have since been added to the list. Memorials on each of those roads have memorials maintained by local garden clubs whose members agree to maintain the memorials, often by planting flowers or trees in designated rest areas or roadside parks to remind travelers of the sacrifices of American servicemembers.
“When the program began it honored only those in World War II, but in 1951 it was decided to honor all who served, past, present and future,” Lantry said. “We want you always to know that we will not forget what you do.”