Nassau Bay Garden Club Honors Service Veterans

It's one of those markers on the side of the road you drive by all the time but never read. But this is one you should be aware of, make note of, and understand the significance of.

A Blue Star Memorial Highway marker denotes a section of highway as a living memorial and is "A Tribute to the Armed Forces that have defended the United States of America" as stated on its face. Our local marker sits on NASA Road One in a small landscaped area next to Nassau Bay Town Square.

The Nassau Bay Garden Club was instrumental in having a section of NASA Road One designated as a Blue Star Memorial Highway in 1970-1971 working with Texas Garden Clubs, Inc. and the Texas Department of Transportation. In 1971, this section of highway was dedicated in grand style with dignitaries from across the state and the marker was placed near the old main gate to Johnson Space Center.

The plaque disappeared for several years while NASA Road One underwent construction and the main gate to NASA was relocated. The garden club began a search and located the original marker in another town where TXDOT had planted it near an historical marker. With permission, the garden club made plans to move the marker to Nassau Bay.

On Saturday, March 1, 2003, Nassau Bay Garden Club members gathered with approximately 200 neighbors and friends to re-dedicate NASA Road One as a Blue Star Memorial Highway and to unveil the original marker as a tribute to those who serve, past or present, in our nation's Armed Forces. A featured speaker, NASA Astronaut Captain Michael E. Lopez-Alegria reminded the crowd of the importance of citizen support for the military by showing pride in those willing to serve their country.

The marker is named for the Blue Star that appeared on service banners which families proudly displayed in front windows during WWII, one star for each member of the family in the service. The first highway marker appeared in New Jersey in the 1940's and the program has grown to include every state, coast to coast. Garden clubs from across the nation have petitioned their state legislatures to designate a section of highway for this memorial purpose and the Nassau Bay Garden Club is proud to have played a role in honoring service members in this way.