What is the Blue Star Memorial Highway?

If you stop off at a Rest Area on I-25N (or, as it might be, I-25S), chances are you'll see a sign saying it's a part of the Blue Star Memorial Highway.

Blue Star Memorial Highway at Southeast Wyoming Welcome Center

Several highways or sections of highways, in all states,  have received this designation throughout the years.

This tribute to our armed forces was started in the 1950s by the National Council of State Garden Clubs.

The use of service flags was started during World War I. Families of solders were given flags by the military to display in or outside their homes. The number of blue stars on the flag (which consisted of a white background) indicated how many brothers/sons the family had serving in the military. If the star was gold, it meant the soldier had died (either killed in action or some other service-related death).