NEWMAN — Community members, veterans and garden club representatives gathered Friday morning at Hills Ferry Cemetery for the dedication of a Blue Star Memorial Marker honoring U.S. service members past, present and future. The ceremony, organized by Newman‑Gustine Garden Club Chairman Linda Ouse, marked the culmination of a project she described as “a long time in the works.”
“We must remember them,” Ouse said, noting that 851 veterans are buried at Hills Ferry. “It is an honor to have all of you here at our Blue Star Memorial Marker dedication.”
The Blue Star program, created by National Garden Clubs, dates back to the 1940s, when garden clubs planted dogwood trees as living memorials for World War II veterans. The tradition later expanded nationwide, and Friday’s dedication added a new marker to that network.
The event’s guest of honor, Lt. Gen. Dan Zanini, U.S. Army (ret.), a Gustine native and 1963 GHS graduate, delivered the keynote address. Zanini served 37 years in the Army, retiring as commander of the 8th U.S. Army in Korea.
“This event really is about the many veterans from the Central Valley who served in World War I, II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Iraq,” Zanini said. “Some are below ground and some are above ground. We honor them all.”
Zanini reflected on Gustine’s long tradition of patriotic celebrations and urged the community to remain engaged in preserving American freedoms.
“We must be vigilant, ever vigilant, so that the freedoms these great warriors served to protect are not lost for future generations,” he said. “Do not be afraid to speak out. Just don’t let the voices of those trying to tear down our country be the only ones heard.”
He encouraged families to teach younger generations about U.S. history, constitutional amendments and the sacrifices made by service members. “Memorials like this offer a great opportunity to recognize those sacrifices,” he said. “But it is not enough. All of us need to do more.”
Several local and regional leaders also spoke during the ceremony.
Melvin Soares, commander of VFW Post 7635, thanked the garden club and cemetery district for honoring veterans. “Freedom will always need to be defended,” he said. “There will be a line of veterans who follow us so long as our republic stands.”
American Legion Post 240 Commander John Huntley called the marker “a quiet but powerful reminder that freedom has a cost.” He added, “Our service hasn’t ended; it continues. We’re veterans helping veterans, families and community.”
Representatives from the National Garden Club, Pacific Region Garden Clubs and California Garden Clubs offered formal greetings and praised the Newman‑Gustine Garden Club for its work. “You have planted seeds of remembrance and patriotism that will bloom for generations,” said California Garden Clubs president‑elect Nina Blonski.
Valley Lode District Director Paula Elias noted that the new marker becomes the district’s 25th Blue Star Memorial. “It is quite an honor to be here today,” she said. “Thank you for your dedication.”
Local officials also attended, including Merced County Supervisor Lloyd Pereira and Stanislaus County Supervisor Channce Condit. “Let this be a reminder that freedom isn’t free,” Condit said. “There is a cost to the families and to the lives of those who serve.”
California Garden Club Blue Star Memorial Co‑Chairman George Unrine provided historical context, tracing the program’s origins from a six‑mile stretch of New Jersey highway to a nationwide network of memorials. “We are here to dedicate a marker to honor those who have served, are serving and will serve our country’s armed forces,” he said.
The ceremony concluded with the unveiling of the marker by Garden Club President Pat Rocha. “A tribute to the armed forces who have defended the United States of America,” she read aloud from the plaque.
Ouse said she hopes the memorial will stand for generations. “I hope every military family who comes here will read it and remember how much we appreciate them,” she said.
