Blue Star Memorial Highways are
highways in the
United States that are marked to pay tribute to the
U.S. armed forces. The National Council of State Garden Clubs, now known as National Garden Clubs, Inc., started the program in 1945 after
World War II. The blue star was used on
service flags to denote a servicemember fighting in the war. The program has since been expanded to include
Memorial Markers and
Memorial By-ways (since 1994). These markers are used in National Cemeteries, parks, veterans facilities, and gardens.