Blue Star  &  Gold Star Memorial Program

History of Blue Star Markers

The Blue Star Memorial Program honors all men and women that serve in the United States Armed Services. This program began with the planting of 8,000 Dogwood trees by the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs in 1944 as a living memorial to veterans of World War II. In 1945, the National Council of State Garden Clubs adopted this program and began a Blue Star Highway system that covers thousands of miles across the Continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. A large metal Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker was placed at appropriate locations along the way. What we see today is a program that has expanded to include all men and women who had served, were serving, or would serve in the armed services of the United States. Memorial Markers and By-Way markers were added to the Highway Markers, to be used at locations such as National cemeteries, parks, veteran’s facilities, and gardens.

History of Gold Star Families

Gold Star Families is a not-for-profit organization created to provide support to those who have lost a loved one in service to our country through the United States Armed Forces. All family members representing all conflicts, all branches of service and all circumstances of death are supported. Family members of the fallen are referred to as Gold Star families. Their mission is to offer Honor, Hope, and Healing through remembering fallen heroes by coming together for various events. While their hero paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, survivors live daily with the pain of this sacrifice. Gold Star families endeavor to provide an atmosphere of emotional and psychological support for healing.

The name Gold Star came from the custom of families of servicemen hanging a banner called a service flag in the window of their homes. The service flag had a star for each family member in the United States Armed Forces. Living servicemen were represented by a Blue Star, and those who had lost their lives were represented by a Gold Star.

Gold Star Memorial Markers were added by the National Garden Clubs to their already existing Blue Star Memorial Program in 2015 and today there are ten Gold Star Markers installed or scheduled to be installed in Oregon, including the two that will mark the recently designated Highway 30 as the “Oregon Gold Star Families Memorial Highway.” U.S. Highway 30 is the third longest highway in our nation extending from Astoria, Oregon to Atlantic City, New Jersey crossing eleven states.
The Oregon portion of this historical highway begins in Astoria and 477 miles later exits the state at Ontario near the Idaho border and honors the nearly 6,000 Oregon veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice leaving their loved ones (parents, siblings, spouses, sons, and daughters) behind to become known as “Gold Star Families.”

 History of the Gold Star Families Memorial Highway

During 2022, the Bend Heroes Foundation requested the Oregon Legislature to honor the families of Oregon’s 6,000 veterans who died during wars from World War I to the present by designating the 477-mile U.S. Highway 30 across Oregon as “Oregon Gold Star Families Memorial Highway”. In response, the Legislature issued HB 2146 (later amended as HB 2146A) on January 9, 2023. At the Foundation’s request, about 20 individuals testified in support of the measure in public hearings conducted by the House and Senate veterans’ committees. Testifiers included Gold Star Fathers, Gold Star Wives, a Gold Star Daughter, Oregon State Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., and 3 veterans’ groups. Both committees voted in unanimous support as did the House of representatives and the Senate. HB 2146A was signed into law by Governor Tina Kotek on May 19, 2023, the day before Armed Forces Day. The law becomes effective on January 1, 2024. After that date, the Foundation and partners will install and dedicate as many as 10 signs along U.S. Highway 30 funded entirely by veterans and other patriots.

The Oregon Legislature designated Highway 30, that begins on the Oregon Coast near Warrenton and departs Oregon 477 miles to the east near Ontario, as the Oregon Gold Star Families Memorial Highway. Governor Tina Kotek signed the legislation into law on May 19, 2023, and it became official on January 1, 2024. This is significant because it honors the families of 6,000 Oregon veterans who died during wars from World War I to the present and it is a key part of the on-going effort to designate the entire Highway 30 that spans the USA between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans as the National Gold Star Families Memorial Highway.

The Oregon State Federation of Garden Clubs has been honored to partner with the Bend Heroes Foundation, under the leadership of Retired Lt. Colonel Dick Tobiason, as well as other veteran organizations and private citizens to provide the funding for the highway signage. An NGC Gold Star Memorial Marker was dedicated in Ontario at the Four Rivers Cultural Center on September 24, 2023, and a like marker is scheduled to be dedicated in Warrenton at the Post Office, 99 North Main Avenue, on May 29, 2024, at 11 am. In addition, there will be ten Oregon Department of Transportation signs erected along the highway (five signs will face east and five signs will face west) as soon as funding is secured. There are no public funds involved in this project so contributions in any amount are welcome and may be sent to OSFGC or to the Bend Heroes Foundation.

Funds to cover the $4,000 cost of the garden club markers are being raised by Garden Club members and their friends and donations in any amount may be made payable to the OSFGC Gold Star Marker Fund and sent to Karen Brown, OSFGC Treasurer, 5211 Salmon River Hwy, Otis, OR 97368-9780.

The Bend Heroes Foundation, other veteran groups, and other patriots, including garden clubs, have set a goal to raise $20,000 to fund the purchase and installation of ten large brown and white Oregon Department of Transportation memorial markers along Highway 30 in Oregon. These will be installed as funding becomes available. Donations may be made payable to the Bend Heroes Foundation (Gold Star ODOT Highway Markers) and mailed to:1900 NE 3rd Street, Bend, OR 97701-3854. Donations to either the OSFGC or the Bend Heroes fund may be tax deductible so do check with your tax professional.

Sincerely, Jane Sercombe. Blue Star Gold Star Chairman, Veterans Liaison.