Macon Rededicates Blue and Gold Star Memorial Markers
Two memorial markers honoring military service members and their families were rededicated at Rosa Parks Square in downtown Macon following the park's renovation.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Military
Two memorial markers honoring military service members and families were rededicated at Rosa Parks Square in downtown Macon on Tuesday. The rededication followed the park's renovation and included remarks from Mayor Lester Miller and Jan Theise, chairman of the Blue and Gold Star Program.
Why it matters
The Blue Star markers recognize everyone who has served, while the Gold Star markers honor families of those who gave their lives while serving. The markers stand downtown alongside the Sgt. Rodney Davis Memorial.
The Blue Star Memorial Program traces to 1944, when the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs planted 8,000 dogwood trees to honor World War II veterans. The National Council of State Garden Clubs adopted the program in 1945, and the extraction does not detail the marker count or renovation cost.
The players
Lester Miller
Lester Miller is the mayor of Macon, Georgia, who spoke at the rededication ceremony for the memorial markers.
Jan Theise
Jan Theise is the chairman of the Blue and Gold Star Program, who addressed attendees at the Macon rededication ceremony.
National Council of State Garden Clubs
The National Council of State Garden Clubs is the organization that adopted the Blue Star Memorial Program in 1945.
The details
Mayor Lester Miller and Jan Theise, chairman of the Blue and Gold Star Program, spoke at the Tuesday ceremony at Rosa Parks Square. The markers were rededicated following the park's renovation and sit downtown alongside the Sgt. Rodney Davis Memorial.
Timeline
1944: The Blue Star Memorial Program began with the planting of 8,000 dogwood trees in New Jersey.
1945: The National Council of State Garden Clubs adopted the program.
Tuesday: The markers were rededicated at Rosa Parks Square in downtown Macon.
Historical Thread
The Macon markers continue the Blue Star Memorial Program that began with the 1944 New Jersey planting of 8,000 dogwood trees for World War II veterans. The National Council of State Garden Clubs adopted the program in 1945, and the rededication extends that legacy to a downtown Georgia park.
Macon residents can visit the Blue and Gold Star markers at Rosa Parks Square downtown, which now sit beside the Sgt. Rodney Davis Memorial. The rededication marks a completed renovation of the park, giving the public a restored space to view the memorials.
The takeaway
Public memorials like these keep the service of military members and their families visible in everyday community spaces. Visiting local markers is a simple way to learn the history behind them.
Further reading
For related coverage of service and veterans, explore more in Military.
