News from Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission

For more information contact: Carl DeFebo, 717-920-7176

Invitation to Cover 1 p.m. Turnpike Event Tomorrow

Garden Club Will Unveil Blue Star Marker at Turnpike Headquarters Tomorrow

HARRISBURG, PA (08/28/2007; 1656)(readMedia)-- The Garden Club of Harrisburg and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will hold a ceremony at 1 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, Aug. 29, to commemorate the placement of a Blue Star Memorial Highway marker at Turnpike headquarters, 700 S. Eisenhower Blvd., Lower Swatara Twp., in honor of service men and women, past, present and future.

Jane Vollrath, immediate past president of the Garden Club of Harrisburg, will present the marker to Turnpike Chief Operating Officer George Hatalowich; Harrisburg Garden Club President Joyce Hoek will give opening remarks. Elected officials from Lower Swatara Township and Middletown Borough are expected to attend, as will representatives from Chapter 50 of the Disabled American Veterans.

The marker will designate the Pa. Turnpike as a National Garden Club Blue Star Memorial highway. Nine markers have thus far been placed along the Turnpike at various locations since 1993. Eventually, additional markers will be placed at all Turnpike service plazas in addition to those along the Turnpike’s shoulder.

The National Garden Clubs Inc. designation of Blue Star Memorial Highways pays tribute to men and women serving past, present and future in our armed forces. The demonstration of roadside beautification dates back to 1944 and became a national project in 1951. The marker program features the traditional blue-star symbol for heroism that was flown on house banners during World War II by families with sons or daughters in the military.