Troutville to host a Blue Star Memorial

Troutville has a new distinction!

The Town of Troutville will become a permanent Blue Star Memorial host for the entire Virginia state run of the US Rt. 11 corridor this fall. “The National Garden Clubs in the US established the markers after WWII to honor servicemen and women for their great service in defending the country,” said Lee Minnix who is one of the spearheads of the effort. Big Spring Garden Club of the county is also behind the effort. The first markers appeared in 1946 and dot the landscape throughout the United States.

“Troutville will host a by-way marker in the town park rather than a highway sign,” said Minnix. “We want people to enjoy the marker at leisure rather than fly-by it on a highway.” All markers both highway and by-way read the same and feature a centered blue star marker on a stone (or bronze sign for a highway sign) and will be surrounded by landscaping provided by the garden club.

The tribute line on the marker will read, “A tribute to the Armed Forces who have defended the United States of America.”

Troutville joins a host of Virginia sites. Other Blue Star Memorials in the state include I-77 in Carroll County, I-95 in Greensville County, Rt. 1 in Fairfax County, Rt. 3 in Lancaster County, Rt 301 in Richmond, Colonial Heights, Petersburg and Emporia, Rt 15 in Fluvanna County at Fork Union Military Academy and I-64 in Shenandoah.

There is more than the marker being planned by the community. Troutville also plans to sell brick pavers for the area surrounding the memorial for $90 each that can bear the names of veterans to be honored for posterity. A celebration is also being planned. On Veteran’s Day, area veterans will be invited to a lunch hosted at the Troutville Town Hall and afterward be encouraged to go to the park for the dedication of the Blue Star Memorial. “Local and state dignitaries and current Blue Star families will be invited to the program as well as media,” said Minnix.

For more information about the Blue Start Memorial, contact Minnix at 540-819-6335.

To purchase a paver, send a $90 check made out to Blue Star Memorial with name and armed service information. Send to Blue Star Memorial, PO Box 236, Troutville, VA 24175.

photos:

Top: Lee Minnix with the I-64 Blue Star Highway Memorial

Bottom: Pam Chambers took a photo of a By-Way South Dakota Blue Star Memorial on a recent trip.

Photos courtesy of Lee Minnix.