Over the years, thousands of men and women made the sacrifice to defend this country by serving in the military.

On Monday, their service was recognized by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania District II/III. Two Blue Star Memorial markers were unveiled at the Hickory Run Service Plaza, located just off the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Carbon County.Veterans, officials and family and friends gathered for a brief program before the unveiling.Carl DeFebo, the director of public relations and marketing for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and a United States Army veteran, welcomed everyone to the plaza."We vets, when we come to these plazas and see these markers, we really appreciate it," he said. "It's a program that reminds us that there is somebody out there who cares; somebody out there who appreciates the sacrifices, because let's face it, everyone who joins the service past, present and future sacrifice something. That's just part of the job."He commended the garden club for its mission to recognize the men and women who served in the military over the years.An invocation was then given by Freeland VFW Post 5010 chaplain George Barna.Following the introduction of officials, Betsy Smith, president of the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania; Jim Thorpe Mayor Michael Sofranko; and Henry M. Desrosiers, director of the Carbon County Veterans Affairs, provided remarks.Smith explained that the blue star was chosen for the signs because it symbolized the blue star on the World War II service flags.Sofranko thanked all veterans present."On other occasions I have spoke about legends that lie under these flags," he said. "If you love your freedom, thank a veteran. These are living heroes. Stop and think about the heroes that are currently serving because we know not when they will be asked to lay their lives down and give the supreme sacrifice so that they too will have to lie with the legends."Desrosiers echoed Sofranko's thoughts, saying, "While we go about our daily lives or while we sleep, the men and women in our armed forces fly the skies, sail the seas and guard our shores, ensuring our safety."They stand ready at a moment's notice to defend our country. We must not forget them," Desrosiers said.After remarks, DeFebo and Smith unveiled one of the signs, which are located next to the entrance on both the northbound and southbound sides of the plaza. Barbara Grosso and Chris Leskosky, garden club committee members, then presented flowers; bugler Frank Balon performed "God Bless America" and "America The Beautiful;" and the Honor Guard of Freeland VFW Post 5010 and Freeland American Legion Post 473 performed a rifle salute.The Blue Star Memorial 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.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 United States, Alaska and Hawaii. The program was later expanded to include all men and women who had served, were serving, or would serve, in the armed services of the United States.To date, Blue Star Memorial markers can be found in all but one service plaza along the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Plans to install markers at that site are under way.