Lily Park will soon be the site of a Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker.
The park, located at the corner of 8th Avenue and South Riverside Drive in Indialantic, is named for Lily Givens, a former member of the Garden Club by the Sea, the group that now maintains the grounds along with the Town of Indialantic.
On Oct. 16, the club approved installing a Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker at Lily Park and requested permission from town council – who unanimously supported the project at their November meeting. The Blue Star Memorial program began more than 70 years ago, just after the end of World War II.
Instead of a stone sculpture or statue, garden clubs across the nation wanted to honor the country’s service men and women with “living memorials” that would serve to make the land they protected more beautiful.
A Blue Star Highway system was created and Blue Star By-Way Markers were added to the program for placement in places like parks, historical sites and gardens where – with participation from local garden clubs – other features were added including trees, shrubs, flowers, playgrounds and bird sanctuaries.
Now called the Blue and Gold Star Memorials Program, the markers are located across the country and honor all men and women who serve and have served in the United States Armed Services.
The garden club will pay the $510 cost for the 12-inch-x-20-inch marker, which is made specifically for parks by the National Garden Club.
Indialantic Town Manager, Mike Casey believes the marker is a fitting way to honor and pay tribute to the country’s armed forces.
“When approached by members of the Garden Club by the Sea about the project, I supported the garden club and thought it is important to recognize and pay tribute to the members of the active armed forces and veterans,” Casey said.
The Blue Star Memorial Plaque will be officially dedicated at Lily Park in 2020.