Oakdale has a year-round commemoration of those who have served in the military with its Blue Star Memorial, situated at the Oakdale Post Office at the corner of California Avenue and Poplar Street. The memorial has been maintained by the Oakdale Garden Club for 10 years.

The Blue Star Memorial is a symbol from World War II, when flags and banners emblazoned with a Blue Star were hung in windows to signify those families that had sons and daughters away at war. The Oakdale Blue Star marker, maintained by members of the Oakdale Garden Club, is part of a national system which includes the Blue Star Memorials along the nation’s highways, in National cemeteries, in parks, at veterans’ facilities, and in community gardens in a number of cities. These Memorials honor “men and women who had served, were serving, or would serve in the armed services of the United States.”

The Oakdale Garden Club has been in existence since 1909 and is a long-time member of the National Blue Star Program, and members said they are proud to maintain the garden surrounding the Oakdale Memorial. The Oakdale Garden Club has been involved with several beautification projects in the city over the years, such as planting trees in Oakdale parks, horse and cowboy statue gardens at the Cowboy Museum, downtown pot planters, and many more.

There are several Blue Star Memorial marker locations around surrounding cities, including Modesto: Senior Citizen Center; Manteca: Manteca Library; Ripon: City Hall Flagpole and Turlock: Highway 99 Northbound Rest Area.

For more information about the Oakdale Garden Club, visit their Facebook page or call Lauren Dutch at 209-352-6522.