MILTON — Milton Garden Club and the city of Milton are joining forces to have a portion of Highway 87 named a Blue Star Memorial Highway.
Milton Garden Club sent a request to city council, according to City Manager Randy Jorgenson, requesting the council's support in its petition to the FDOT to dedicate a segment of the highway "in honor of those who have served and are serving."
Jorgenson said the request will be made to have the portion of the highway from the intersection of U.S. 90 in Milton to the Alabama state line. If approved, a large marker will be placed at a specified location to signify the highway's dedication. The council unanimously voted to support the request without discussion.
According to Florida Statute 335.091, "The head of the department, in cooperation with the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., is authorized to designate certain roads in this state as Blue Star Memorial highways in honor of those individuals who have served or are serving in the Armed Forces of the United States."
If approved by FDOT, the garden club will be responsible for funding the $1,470 memorial marker, according to a Blue Star Memorial brochure.
The Blue Star Memorial Program began in 1945 after World War II. The blue star is used on service flags to denote a service member fighting in a war.
Milton has a Blue Star Memorial highway on U.S. 90 in Milton. The nearest memorial is at Barrancas National Cemetery in N.A.S Pensacola.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Garden Club seeking Blue Star designation