Submitted photos A host of members attended the Emma Scott Garden Club’s most recent meeting held last week. Those attending included front row, from left, Linda Shomo, Tonya White, Ashton White, Ava White, Aspen White, and Ken Hanscom. Back row: Renee Benz, Joanne Bright, Summer Swanson, Ezra Swanson, Jim Sayres, Suzan Sayres, Imre Barsy, Debra Barsy, Lucinda Barrick, Donna Isner, Becky Amorese, Joann Gabel, Nayoka Guthrie, Debbie Shahan, Bill Stump, Marian Hanscom, and Judy Guye.

Emma Scott Garden Club member Ashton Scott gave a PowerPoint presentation about Blue Star Markers during the organization’s most recent meeting held last week.

ELKINS — The Emma Scott Garden Club returned from a two-month hiatus during its winter break and was greeted by a power-point presentation from Elkins High School senior Ashton White during its most recent meeting.

White, who became a member of the organization last year, personally maintained three Blue Star Memorial Markers scattered around Elkins last summer. The markers are built to honor men and women who served in the United States Armed Services.

During the meeting, White covered the full history of the Blue Star Markers, which were introduced to the public in 1944 when the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs planted 8,000 dogwood trees that were dedicated to World War II veterans.

The following year the National Council of State Garden Clubs adopted the Blue Star in service flags, which hung in the windows of homes and businesses of families that had loved ones away at war.

White showed the work he had done at the Blue Star Gardens last summer and talked about how it was an honor to pay tribute to veterans. The gardens White cared for are located on Graceland Drive across from Walgreens, the Elkins City Park, and Little Arlington Cemetery.

During his powerpoint he talked about working on a fourth Blue Start Marker this summer, which will be located next to the Elkins Public Library. White told those in attendance that even though the soil next to the library is not the best for growing and is difficult to work with, he is determined to grow stunning flowers there that will make all veterans proud.

White’s younger sisters, Ava and Aspen, are ESGC Garden Sprouts and led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the meeting.

“Ashton, Ava and Aspen’s parents were so proud of all three of their children’s participation in the meeting,” said ESGC President Linda Shomo. “They are all three great kids and we are happy that they are a part of our club.”

All three of the White children plan to open the ESGC’s April meeting, which will be centered around roses. Judy Riffe, who is an expert on roses, will handle the presentation at the meeting.

The ESGC is now accepting new members from Randolph County. Anyone who is interested in joining the organization is asked to contact B.J. McKenzie (304-614-3079), Summer Swanson (304-801-6230) or Linda Shomo (703-861-9351).

“If you love gardening, learning about plants, butterflies, bees as well as sharing creative new ideas on how to make your community a better place, we would like to invite you to join the ESGC and be a part of making a difference,” Shomo said. “We have a growing membership of both young women, men and Garden Sprouts, which are children under the age of 15 years old.”