New Carrollton, MD, September 18, 2010: New Carrollton Garden Club dedicated a Blue Star Memorial on Route 450 just southwest of it's intersection with the Capital Beltway. Route 450 from Peace Cross through New Carrollton (also known as Annapolis Road and Defense Highway) was also declared a Maryland Historic Highway.A bus transported us from the city administration building to the memorial site:
The memorial was unveiled:
Margaret McKnew, Blue Star Memorial chairman for New Carrollton Garden Club thanked the State of Maryland, City of New Carrollton and VFW Post 8950 in helping with the memorial and its dedication. Dick Esper, chaplain of VFW Post 8950 led the assembly in prayer.
Geraldo Marshall played Taps; a memorial wreath was placed by H. Steve Mason of VFW Post 8950, Norma Hetrick, co-president of New Carrollton Garden Club and New Carrollton Mayor Andrew Hanko.
Among those attending were District I Director David Healy, NCA Garden Clubs President Mary Ellen Alden, National Garden Club 1st Vice President Shirley Nicolai, NCA Garden Club Blue Star Memorial chairman Marion Caldwell, New Carrollton Garden Club member Charmane Truesdell with Mayor Hanko.
Following the dedication, we returned to the city administration building for a short program. The New Carrollton Police Department color guard presented the colors and New Carrollton Co-President Norma Hetrick led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Students from Parkdale High School then sang the National Anthem and another song.
New Carrollton Mayor Andrew Hanko gave a welcome and he was followed by Landover Hills Mayor Lee Walker, whose city is traversed by the historic highway.
Marion Caldwell presented the history of National Garden Club's Blue Star Memorial program; Margaret McKnew explained the history behind the designation of Route 450 as an historic highway.
New Carrollton Garden Club is participating in Operation Welcome Home, in which Marylanders go to BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport to greet service men and women returning from overseas. Hetrick invited attendants to pen welcome home cards for this project. Here Charmane Truesdell and Lurraine Gettier are writing welcome home cards.
