The Garden Club Council Of Cherokee County will present a Blue Star Memorial Marker to the Georgia National Cemetery at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 14. This Flag Day ceremony is free and open to the public, and will take place on the cemetery grounds (2025 Mount Carmel Church Ln.; Canton, Ga. 30114).

“We are tremendously honored that the Garden Club Council Of Cherokee County will place a Blue Star Memorial Marker at our cemetery,” said Brion Moore, Georgia National Cemetery director. “The marker represents the selfless sacrifices that veterans have made throughout the years in addition to the sacrifices that current service members continue to make on behalf of this country.”

The Blue Star Memorial Marker Program was adopted in 1946 by National Garden Clubs, Inc. to honor the men and women who served in World War II. This program was the first nationwide beautification program initiated by National Garden Clubs. Highways were dedicated as Blue Star Memorial Highways, with a marker surrounded by gardens along thousands of miles throughout the United States.

The Blue Star program was later expanded to pay tribute to "all who have served, are serving and will serve." Today, memorial signs are placed at veterans’ facilities, national cemeteries, parks and other civic locations.