A New Gold Star Garden In Hatboro Has Officially Opened With A Recent Groundbreaking Event

HATBORO, PA — The borough held a groundbreaking recently for its new Gold Star Garden, an addition to the Miller Meadow community park that is designed to honor the country's military families.

Hatboro held the groundbreaking event this past Saturday, a program attended by various local officials and community advocates.

"Led by a committee comprised by Borough Council, Staff, and volunteers, this garden was designed to create a peaceful, serene area for reflection while honoring those who have served, or are serving, in the military," the borough posted to Facebook. "This garden will provide support to the men and women who give everything to defend our country and represent an everlasting gratitude for centuries to come."

Photos from the recent groundbreaking ceremony can be found here on the Facebook page for the Hatboro Gold Star Garden.

According to the borough, the garden is being completely funded through private donations and fundraising, allowing both Hatboro residents and those residing outside of the community a chance to contribute to the project.

Back in February, Patch reported that Hatboro was selling engraved bricks to help fund the construction of the project.

RELATED: Montco Community Selling Engraved Bricks For Gold Star Garden

"As a result, this project not only reflects the Borough's support of Gold Star Families, but the community's love, appreciation, and respect for our armed forces and those who sacrificed their lives for the country," the borough posted to Facebook about the fundraising process being open to anyone. "Gold Star families represent the bravery, courage, and honor of our military service members throughout the country."

A program brochure for the recent groundbreaking showed that speakers who attended included Hatboro Borough Council President George Bollendorf, State Rep. Nancy Guenst, State Sen. Maria Collett, and Gold Star father Charles Strange.

According to the borough, the term Gold Star family is a modern reference that comes from the Service Flag, which was a flag first flown by families during World War I, and which included a blue star for every immediate family member serving in the U.S. Armed Forces during that time of conflict.

If the loved one died at war, the blue flag was replaced by a gold star.

"This allowed members of the community to know the price that the family had paid in the cause of freedom," the program brochure reads.

Hatboro says that its Gold Star Garden project was made possible with the help of a committee that was comprised of Hatboro Borough Council members, borough staff, and a host of volunteers.

The Gold Star Garden is located at the Miller Meadow Park on South York Road.