A Blue Star Memorial was unveiled Tuesday at the Abie Abraham Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Center.

CENTER TWP — VA Butler Healthcare unveiled a Blue Star Memorial marker outside its new center on North Duffy Road Tuesday, tying another tribute to the nation's armed services to its new campus.

The ceremony, which drew dozens of veterans and garden club officials who worked to bring the marker to the VA Butler Healthcare, commemorated the marker, which serves as a tribute to all men and women who served, are serving, or will serve in the nation's armed forces.

The program began in 1944 with the planting of 8,000 dogwood trees by the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs as a living memorial to veterans of World War II. Since then it has expanded to include more than 3,000 markers in the continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii.

Work to bring one of the markers — a plaque featuring a blue star — to the VA Butler Healthcare began more than a year ago, said Janet Platt, co-president of the Butler Garden Club, which worked with the Southern Butler County Garden Club on the project.

For Platt, Tuesday's ceremony held special significance. She has two sons — one in the Navy and another in the Coast Guard — who have served for years in the military. And their experiences helped drive home the sacrifices American soldiers make.

“They each have friends who gave their lives to protect our country,” Platt said, “and would each do the same.”

Karen Faust, president of the Southern Butler County Garden Club, said she hopes the marker would stand as a reminder that people must not forget the men and women who keep the nation safe every day.

“While we just go about our daily lives, the men and women of the armed forces fly our skies, sail our seas, and guard our shores,” Faust said. “We must not forget them — and we do not.”

Corinne Babson, the chairwoman of the state Garden Club Federation's Blue Star Marker program for Western Pennsylvania, said Tuesday's event in Center Township marked the 83rd Blue Star marker to be dedicated in Pennsylvania.

“We can all be proud of how the program has grown,” she said.

Rose Romboski, the assistant director for region nine of the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania, thanked officials from the local garden clubs for their work bringing the marker to the VA's new health care center in Center Township.

“I am so proud of what (they) have done over the past year,” she said. “It's truly a community collaboration.”