Delaware County’s Department of Records and Archives and the Blue Star Memorial Highway Program of National Garden Clubs, Inc., is looking for information regarding two Blue Star Markers that were purchased on February 18, 1948, for Media Borough.

The 73-year old markers were created to honor World War II Veterans.

The Blue Star Program began in 1945 to honor the men and women serving in the Armed Forces during World War ll.

This program began with the planting of 8,000 Dogwood trees by the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs in 1944.

In 1945, the National Council of State Garden Clubs (now NGC, Inc.) adopted this program and began a Blue Star Highway system with Blue Star Memorial Highway Markers that cover thousands of miles across the Continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii., according to www.gardenclub.org.

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

According to the National Garden Clubs, Inc. (NGC) records, the first two markers purchased for Pennsylvania were in 1948 and were meant to be placed in Media. It isn’t known if and where they were ever placed.

The markers look similar to the one in the photo with this post. Anyone with information on where these markers were placed, who ordered them, or where they may be stored is asked to contact Sandy Manthorpe, Blue Star Chair, District No. 1 and Eastern PA, GCFP, smanthorpe@aol.com, 610-942-4696; or Matthew Millison, Records & Archives Coordinator, Delaware County Archives, archives@co.delaware.pa.us, 610-891-5620.

Find out more about the Blue Star Program.