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Lake City, Florida: A Sesquicentennial Tribute (2009) H. Morris Williams, Dr. Kevin M. McCarthy

Blue Star Memorial Highway

A marker in the front (west) yard of the local V. A. Medical
Center (V.A.M.C.) indi-
cates that U.S. 441 is a
Blue Star Memorial
Highway. The National
Garden Clubs, Inc. is the
parent organization for
Blue Star Memorial
Highways, an idea that
dates back to 1944. The
double-sided marker at
the V.A.M.C. reads the
same on both sides: “National Garden Clubs, Inc. Blue Star Memo-
rial Highway. A tribute to the Armed Forces that have defended the
United States of America. Sponsored by District V Florida Federa-
tion of Garden Clubs in cooperation with Principal Financial Group
and the Lake City Garden Club.” Why a blue star, rather than green
or some other color? Because blue stars were hung in windows in the

homes of families that had a son or daughter in the service during
World War II. The mission of the local V.A.M.C. is to serve the medical
needs of our veterans and is therefore an ideal site to place a marker
honoring our armed forces.

National Guard
After World War II ended in 1945, Lake City and the rest of
Florida and the country demobilized and prepared for the post-war
economic boom. Florida officials reorganized the national guard units
that had been on active duty during the war. The Lake City unit be-
came the Heavy Tank Company, 124th Regiment and later the 187th
Tank Battalion, 48 Armored Division, and - more recently - the 153rd
National Guard Engineer Unit in Lake City. 37

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