Page "Roanoke Star" Paragraph 2

Initially, the star was illuminated in all-white.

Later, the star's color would change from white to red to indicate a traffic fatality on that day.

As part of the bicentennial celebration in 1976, the design was changed to an outer single star of red encompassing inner double-stars of white and blue.

Generally all the colors have been lit at once, but occasionally the colors have been lit in a repeating sequence: each color shows exclusively for a second or two, or in succession.

To commemorate a tragic event, the red outer star has been used alone, in a manner akin to a lowered flag.

Such commemorations have been made for national and local events.

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the star was kept in a red, white, and blue configuration for nearly six years, until April 2007.