Blue Star Highway Marker Dedication Draws a Patriotic Crowd

The weather was cooperative as several hundred people gathered for the Blue Star Highway Marker dedication on Friday morning (Nov. 9) near the intersection of Highway 15 and Highway 25 in Louisville. The marker was sponsored by the local garden clubs: Louisville Garden Club, Town and Country Garden Club and the Winston Garden Club along with the Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc.

The Blue Star Memorial program honors those men and women who have worn and still wear the uniforms of our armed forces. The program began in 1944 and has been expanded across the continental United States. The Blue Star was an icon of WWII and is seen on flags and banners in homes for sons and daughters away at war, as well in churches, businesses and civic organizations.

The program began as State Senator Giles Ward gave the Call to Order and the MDOT Color Guard presented the colors. The national anthem was performed by Mary Tabor accompanied by the Louisville High School Band followed immediately by a L-17 Flyover by the Meridian L-17 Formation Team. The invocation was provided by Reverend Mike Dowd, a Vietnam War Veteran of the U.S. Army.

Mrs. Elaine Thompson, the Coordinator of Districts of the Garden Clubs of Ms. provided a welcome and introduced several speakers including Mike Taggert, the Northern District Highway Commissioner of MDOT, Nancy Moore, the president of the Garden Clubs of Ms. and Louisville Mayor Will Hill, all of whom gave a tribute and a thank you to the veterans present.

The presidents of the local garden clubs along with Mayor Hill and Senator Ward unveiled the marker that will reside on the east side of hwy just north of the intersection with Old Robinson Road. The ceremony was closed with a benediction provided by Mr. Billy Metts, another veteran of the Vietnam War.

Numerous area veterans from WWII, Korea and Vietnam attended the ceremony and snapped photos with the marker.  Some photos are included below and a full slide show of the event can be seen by clicking here.

Add caption