On a bright South Florida December morning, the National Garden Club unveiled a new Blue Star Memorial marker during a ceremony at Fuchs Park in South Miami. The marker is on a grassy area right outside the park, 6446 SW 81st St., which runs alongside U.S. 1.
Veterans, their family members and friends gathered on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, and dedicaed the landmark sign along U.S. 1 that pays tribute to veterans. Although there are 3,000 such markers dotting roads across the country, it’s easy to drive past without knowing the significance. Andrea Little, the chair of Blue Star Memorial, noted “For us, the Blue Star Memorial marker is like the cross at each grave in Arlington National Cemetery” Raised in a military family, Little, says the five points on the blue star symbolize war, peace, honesty, prosperity and honor. This specific marker reads “A tribute to the Armed Forces who have defended the United States of America.”
Blue Star Memorial Highways are highways in the United States that honor all men and women that serve in the United States Armed Services. The 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. And since 1945, the National 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.
The keynote speaker was Col. Michael Farrell, (pictured top right) Chief of Staff and second in command of the Marine Corps Forces, U.S. Southern Command. In his remarks he noted Calvin Coolidge’s admonition: “The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten.”
Of the event, Director of the Miami Military Museum & Memorial, Anthony D. Atwood, noted: “The Blue Star Memorial unveiling was deeply moving. The patriotic ladies of the Florida and National Garden Clubs are truly Unsung Heroes. They beautify the nation, they preserve our heritage, and they ask for nothing.”
- South Miami Honor Guard with Asst. Chief Fata.
- Andrea Little, Chair of the National Garden Clubs Blue Star Memorial and Anna Louise Fulks, program Emcee and President of the South Miami Garden Club.
- John Waterstreet, WWII vet, and chaplain of the American Legion Post of the Korea and Vietnam Veterans, and Post Commander Mike McVay, Vietnam vet.
- Anthony D. Atwood, Director of the Miami Military Museum & Memorial; Gustavo Cruz, Director, Miami Dade County Military Affairs Committee; garden club event volunteer, and Donna Shelley of SOMI Magazine.
- SMPD Honor Guard
- Cristy Arias, Soloist, performing the National Anthem.
- SMPD Asst. Chief Louis Fata, Brittnie Bassant, ChamberSOUTH President, South Miami Mayor Philip Stoddard, Commissioner Walter Harris and Ron Gold.
- Event organizer and Emcee Anna Louise Fulks welcoming the guests.
- Bagpiper Robert Latimer leads the SMPD Honor Guard to the podium.
- American Legion Post 31 Chaplain John Waterstreet offers the invocation.
- Mayor Philip K. Stoddard addresses the guests
- Unveiling of the Blue Star Memorial Highway marker – 1
- Unveiling of the Blue Star Memorial Highway marker – 2
- Unveiling of the Blue Star Memorial Highway marker – 3
- Andrea Little, Col. Michael Ferrell, Anna Louise Fulks, Mayor Stoddard and Rosita Aristoff, Chair, Florida Federation of Garden Clubs.
- ChamberSOUTH Military Affairs Committee Chair Carmen Layne Powers. Anthony Atwood and Cristy Arias.
- Miami-Dade PD Officer Eduardo Gaitan plays taps at the conclusion of the program.
- Robert Latimer performs Amazing Grace for the closing.
- Garden Club volunteers provide an apres reception – 1
- Garden Club volunteers provide an apres reception – 2
- Garden Club volunteers provide an apres reception – 3