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Dedication - November 2, 1971
In November of 1971 the Nassau Bay Garden Club held a ceremony dedicating the three miles of NASA Parkway between Texas Highway 3 and the entrance to the Manned Spacecraft Center as the Blue Star Memorial Highway. "We are most grateful for your kindness in inviting us to be with you and the members of the Nassau Bay Garden Club ... and it will be an honor and a privilege to join you for the ceremony." Preston Smith, Governor of Texas - September 30, 1971
In conjunction with the placement of the marker itself, the Club completed, a living memorial, a beautification project of the NASA Parkway esplanades with the planting of 156 oleanders. "Congratulations! Through the persistence and generous participation of your Garden Club, your beautification of NASA Boulevard has become a reality..." Chamber of Commerce - March 12,1970
“The need to beautify NASA Road-1, the only highway into this area of several new housing developments…first became evident in 1967… The road was paved in 1964 and the area population had grown from 5,000 in 1963 to around 60,000 five years later.” “The bare, unattractive esplanade of NASA Road-1 contrasted sharply with the beautiful, landscaped campus of the Space Center and the boulevards of Nassau Bay… Though the plants are still small, there is already evidence of improvement in the appearance of the esplanade.” “ During the fall of 1970, the Texas Highway Department began an extensive program of resurfacing NASA-1… The esplanade area of the highway was used as a parking area for heavy equipment and asphalt materials resulting in some damage to plants and grass…. additional plants were purchased and planted to complete the landscaping project.” “ Because the Space Program is so much a part of our lives in Nassau Bay, the members of the Garden Club resolved to have NASA-1 added to the network of Blue Star Memorial Highways spanning the country. It would be a memorial to the astronauts and all the valiant men who serve in all the Armed Forces.” “ The Highway Department chose the side road leading to the main gate of the Space Center as the best location for the marker… Because of the importance of this event to the people of Texas, Governor Preston Smith was invited to be present at the dedication ceremony to accept the marker on behalf of the State. The ceremony was held on November 2, 1971 at the site of the marker near the main gate of the Manned Spacecraft Center… It is a great source of pride and satisfaction to all the members of the Nassau Bay Garden Club to have participated in this entire project.” Quotes from Garden Club historical documents Rededication - March 1, 2003
The rededication of the Blue Star Memorial Marker honoring all veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States who have sacrificed to defend our freedom and to those who continue to do so took place on March 1, 2003, at 10:00 a.m., at the marker site near Nassau Bay City Hall.
Information and pictures courtesy of Nassau Bay Garden Club
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The program was begun by
the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs in 1944 with the planting
of 8000 Dogwood trees as a living memorial to veterans of World War
II. In 1945 the National Council of Garden Clubs adopted the program
adding the large metal Blue Star Highway markers. The Blue Star itself
was a recognized icon during World War II. Families would display
a banner in a window of their home with one blue star representing
each son or daughter serving in the military. Thus the inspiration
for the Blue Star Memorial.
