This Blue Star Memorial is a tribute to the Armed Forces that have defended the United States of America. I'ts located on the corner of SD-10 and 8th Avenue East. The large tank that adournes this location appears to be a T-95, a Cold War era medium tank developed between 1955-1959. The memorial is sponsored by the American Legion post 50 and the South Dakota Federation of Garden Clubs.
The Blue Star Memorial Program honors service men and women. This program began with the planting of 8,000 Dogwood trees by the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs in 1944 as a living memorial to veterans of World War II. In 1945, the National Council of State Garden Clubs adopted the program and began a Blue Star Highway system, which covers thousands of miles across the Continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii. A large metal Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker was placed at appropriate locations along the way.
The program was expanded to include all men and women who had served, were serving or would serve in the armed services of the United States. Memorial Markers and By-Way markers were added to the Highway Markers, to be used at locations such as National cemeteries, parks, veteran's facilities and gardens.
The Blue Star became an icon in World War II and was seen on flags and banners in homes for sons and daughters away at war, as well as in churches and businesses. This program has been active all through the years to the present, a fitting tribute always and especially now.
To get credit for this Virtual:
You can achieve credit in 1 of 2 ways:
1). Post a picture of yourself with the tank in your Found It log
2). For those who are photo-shy, send me the 7 digit number welded on the back BELOW the letters "GC"
Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.
Sources: https://www.sdgardenclubs.org/blue-star-marker