Corbin Garden Club dedicates second Blue Star Memorial Marker

The Corbin Garden Club dedicated its second Blue Star Memorial Marker Monday.

The new marker is located at the Kentucky Welcome Center off I-75 N at mile marker 1 in Williamsburg.

Blue Star Memorial markers are a tribute to the Armed Forces.

It began with the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs in 1944 which planted 8,000 Dogwood trees. In 1945, the National Council of State Garden Clubs adopted the program and began the Blue Star Highway system which expands thousands of miles across the continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii, states the National Garden Clubs’ website.

The Blue Star was adopted as the icon because during World War II it was used on flags and banners for sons and daughters away at war.

Only garden clubs federated with the National Garden Club can dedicate Blue Star Memorial Markers. Corbin’s club is part of the Kentucky Garden Club which is federated with the national club.

The marker at the welcome center is the second marker dedicated by the Corbin Garden Club. The first is located in front of City Hall in Corbin.

The welcome center marker has been in the works for several years, but it was delayed due to construction on the Welcome Center and COVID-19.

“We thought, if we could get permission, this would be perfect because then people from all these states travelling through coming into Kentucky, give them an opportunity to see how garden clubs really want to honor the armed forces. This would be so much more visible than any other place,” said Carcille Burchette, President of the Kentucky Garden Club.

After work began in 2018, a partnership with the Corbin Garden Club, the Whitley County Road Department and the Kentucky Department of Highways was formed.

Burchette said from the beginning she knew the club would have to find a group willing to install the marker. The group contacted the Whitley County Road Department about storing and eventually installing the marker.

The initial permission for the project was from the Kentucky Department of Highways in Manchester. That office sent the request to Frankfort which granted permission for the marker.

“The Department of Highways was really surprised that we got permission, and that we got it as quickly as we did,” said Burchette.

The Corbin High School Chamber Choir opened the dedication ceremony with the National Anthem. Corbin High School’s Junior ROTC program presented the Colors.

Pastor Jack Willis gave the invocation and benediction prayers.

Knox Central’s Junior ROTC program lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

The dedication ceremony was ended with Taps played by the DAV Honor Guard, Chapter 158 of Keavy.

Approximately 100 people attended the dedication.

“We are so pleased we had such a wonderful turnout,” said Burchette.