Honoring Veterans Through The Blue Star Memorial
By: Carmen Chau
Updated: November 6, 2012
The academy known as the college-prep school that offers an air force program teaching leadership, citizenship and service.
With Veterans Day just around the corner, the academy had the honor of accepting a historical plaque.
"I think it signifies that along with the Garden Club that we are about men and women in uniform who provided the opportunity to all of us to live a free life and to live in America, the best place in the world," says Henry Hobgood, the president of Randolph-Macon Academy.
It's known as the blue star and it became an icon in World World II. The blue star is seen on flags and banners, as well as in churches and businesses.
"The blue star on the marker comes from the blue star flag that the blue star mothers would hang in the windows of their homes to represent that they had a service men or women serving in our armed forces," says Judy Binns, president of the Virginia Federation Garden Clubs.
Usually, garden club members like Judy Binns, plants flowers and trees to honor veterans and those who serve but this time was different.
"The program started in 1943 by National Garden Clubs and at that point, it was honoring World War II veterans and as the program expanded, we changed the marker to honor all those who serve," adds Binns.
Binns says the academy was a fitting place for the plaque because it's where future members of the armed services will learn their technique and prepare themselves to serve our country.
When service members lost their lives, the blue star was replaced with a gold one representing the sacrifice. A silver star stood for someone that was removed from their home for their wounds sustained overseas.



