The installation's command group and the members of the Garden Club of Fort Belvoir came together Saturday at the Blue Star Memorial Marker at Lieber Gate to honor the nation's veterans as well as one special individual.
A memorial was placed in honor of dedicated volunteer Paula Cushing for her tireless efforts resulting in the Blue Star Memorial Marker dedicated to all those who served in the armed forces.
During early 1989, Paula Cushing wrote letters to the governor, senators, and congressmen all in effort to garner support for a plan to erect a marker at Fort Belvoir. A bill was finally introduced before the Virginia legislature in January 1989 and signed in April 1990 by the governor. The bill designates the portion of U.S. Route 1 from the Occoquan Bridge to the junction of State Highway 235 as "A Blue Star Memorial Highway."
For the past 16 years, the Fort Belvoir Garden Club and the installation commander or a member of his staff, have joined to place a wreath on the Blue Star Memorial Marker. The marker was erected and dedicated at Pence Gate on Sept. 17, 1990. On Veterans Day 2005, the marker was re-dedicated at Lieber Gate.
Cushing died at the age of 86 on Sept. 23, 2005.
"Paula was my good friend and I loved her dearly ... she would be thrilled to see this marker that we gave to her credit," said Barbara Griffith. "She really worked hard. She was the one who wrote the letters, made the calls, and it's not easy to get anything done in this government - the red tape and all. Paula was tough, but she got things done, she was a true, true veteran of sorts, daughter of a serviceman and a wife. She loved her country.
"Paula wanted this marker and put her heart and soul into it."
Fort Belvoir Garden Club President Jo Sellers said she remembered when she and Paula had laid the first wreath in 1990, when they first unveiled the Blue Star Marker.
"Paula was very determined to get this done and she did it. One of the things Paula would say is, 'If you are going to be a ditch digger, be the best ditch digger you are going to be,"' said Sellers.
Installation Commander Col. Brian Lauritzen, Griffith, and Pula's son Rick Cushing received the wreath from the Garden Club and placed it on the marker.
"I think my mother was just so proud to be a part of the Army and the military life. She grew up in it and her whole life was focused on that, she was proud to be a representative and supporter of military life," said daughter Patsy Banta. "She loved our country and today she would just be thrilled to have a beautiful day and a beautiful ceremony."
The marker dedicated to Paula Cushing reads: In memory of Paula Cushing, a true patriot: Garden Club of Fort Belvoir 2006."
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