Garden club honors vets
BUTLER TWP — Members of the Butler Garden Club are continuing a World War II tradition. The group is honoring U.S. veterans by installing a Blue Star Memorial marker at the Butler Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
The memorial, which is surrounded by arborvitae trees and red and white geraniums with a blue star and the National Garden Club emblem on top, will be dedicated Monday.
The service will include an unveiling, barber shop music by the Notables and the ceremonial acceptance of the memorial by campus officials.
Located on the medical center's grounds across from Target, the marker is inscribed with the message "A tribute to the armed forces that have defended the United States of America." The marker is sponsored by the local club in cooperation with the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania.
"The Butler Garden Club has been doing things in the community for about 75 years, and we are really happy that we have a chance to do this for the community," said Merab Drennen, Butler Garden Club president.
Drennen said that in 1947 national garden club members, who are committed to civic duties and promoting gardening, visualized a living memorial they could create to honor those who have served this country.
The blue star idea came from a 1945 tradition in which families with service members showed their support by placing a blue star marker in their windows.
Once the national club adopted this symbol, it began placing memorials all over the country.
The group envisioned "dedicated highways across the country in every state at appropriate locations such as state lines, entrances to towns, intersections and rest areas," according to the Pennsylvania Garden Club's Web site.
Also committed to community service, the Butler club decided to implement the vision and began erecting a Blue Star Memorial to honor local veterans.
The memorial, which was put in place last week, was landscaped by Eisler Landscapes in Prospect and overseen by club member Sherry Kyne.
The memorial was paid for by the club's fundraising, which includes the annual Summer Garden Party at a local country club.
After the memorial is dedicated, the VA will maintain it — including lots of watering and care, Drennen said.
"Other Blue Star Memorials have been dedicated in the area along the Pa. Turnpike," she said, "but this is the first one that the Butler club has done."
There are about 35 Blue Star markers in Pennsylvania, which have been installed through cooperation with the Pennsylvania Turnpike, PennDOT and other organizations.
There are about 1,634 across the United States, said Maria Nahom, the National Blue Star Memorial chairwoman.
"This year alone 252 new ones were added," Nahom said, "and Pennsylvania has been a leader recently with new additions."
Locally, the Butler Garden Club also helps out with charitable organizations such as Lifesteps, the American Cancer Society and the Audubon Society. The club encourages public involvement in its fundraisers and gardening events.
The next community fundraiser will be the June 21 Cleveland Botanical Garden Tour, including visits to the Costa Rica Cloud Forest and the Madagascar Spiny Desert.
Reservations can be made by calling Margaret Hoffman, trip coordinator, at 724-282-4454.
<B>WHAT: </B>Dedication ceremony for a Blue Star Memorial marker donated to the Butler Veterans Affairs Medical Center by the Butler Garden Club<B>WHEN: </B>8:30 a.m. Monday<B>WHERE: </B>Butler VA campus opposite Target
