Veterans Day is coming up on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, and there are at least two ways to honor Vets in Normandy Park this week:

Normandy Park’s Blue Star Memorial By-Way

The Blue Star Program honors all men and women that serve(d) in the United States Armed Services, and we are honored to have one in Normandy Park.

This program began with the planting of 8,000 Dogwood trees by the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs in 1944 as a living memorial to veterans of World War II.

In 1945, the National Council of State Garden Clubs (now NGC, Inc.) adopted this program and began a Blue Star Highway system that covers thousands of miles across the Continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii.

The Blue Star was adopted because it had become an icon in World War II and was seen on flags and banners in homes for sons and daughters away at war.

The program also includes Blue Star By-Way Markers. These memorials are permitted in parks, historic sites, and other civic locations. And the city has a By-Way Memorial thanks to the Parkside Garden Club.

On July 4, 2001, Parkside Garden Club dedicated the Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker at the Normandy Park City Hall in honor of our country’s veterans and service men and women. Club members raised the funds, obtained the marker, and created the flowerbed surrounding it. The Club continues to maintain the marker and the surrounding plantings.

If you have not seen the Memorial, please visit it. The Memorial is located at City Hall Park adjacent to the flagpole (just north of City Hall).

“Donuts for Veterans” on Thursday, Nov. 10

On Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022 the city and Parkside Garden Club invite all to “Donuts for Veterans.”

The event will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Visit the Blue Star Memorial at City Hall Park that day for free coffee and a donut to honor our Veterans!