Macon Blue Star and Gold Star Markers Return to Rosa Parks Square
MACON, Georgia – Macon-Bibb County rededicated the Blue Star and Gold Star Families Memorial Markers at Rosa Parks Square in Downtown Macon on Tuesday, November 10, the day before Veterans Day.
Community members, veterans, local leaders and military families gathered at the newly redone square for the ceremony. The markers were first dedicated in 2016 and went back into the square after the park’s reimagination earlier this year.
County Manager Dr. Keith Moffett, a Navy veteran, spoke about what the markers mean to the community.
“While these markers may seem small in size, what they represent is incredibly significant,” Moffett said. “These markers are more than monuments. They are reminders of the courage, sacrifice, and commitment that have shaped our nation, and of the families who carry those sacrifices with them every day.”
Ceremony details
The Macon-Bibb County Fire Department presented the colors. Bibb County Sheriff’s Office Colonel Henderson Carswell, a veteran, led a prayer. Central High School senior Audrey Windham Brown performed the National Anthem.
The Blue Star Memorial Marker honors all men and women who have served, are serving or will serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. The Gold Star Families Memorial Marker recognizes families who lost loved ones while serving.
Mayor Lester Miller said he hopes younger residents in particular will stop at the markers.
“We can never fully repay the sacrifices made for our freedom, but we can make sure those sacrifices are never forgotten,” Miller said. “My hope is that everyone who passes through this square, especially our younger generations, will see these markers and understand the importance of honoring those who have served.”
History of the program
The Blue Star Memorial Program dates to 1944, when the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs planted 8,000 dogwood trees as a living tribute to World War II veterans. The National Council of State Garden Clubs adopted the program the next year and took it nationwide. In 2015, the program added Gold Star Families Memorial Markers.
Jan Thiese, chairman of the Garden Club of Georgia Gold and Blue Star Marker, said the markers carry a simple message from the garden clubs.
“These markers are the Garden Clubs’ way of saying Thank You to all who serve and their families who sacrifice so much for us each and every day,” Thiese said.
County officials said the markers will keep serving as a place for reflection, remembrance and gratitude in the square. Earlier coverage of the Blue Star and Gold Star markers rededication has more on the event.
