ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - It's not every day that an Army Soldier and a Girl Scout Troop cross paths, but the two did just that to celebrate patriotism at Fountain Green Elementary in Bel Air, Maryland Feb. 17.
The meeting wasn't by chance. A local Girl Scout troop, Daisy Troop 834, began working on their "Gerri Petal" this month, which means "Respecting Authority," and wanted to spread the love to Aberdeen Proving Ground Soldiers in honor of Valentine's Day.
"We wanted to make valentines for our Soldiers to let them know that we respect and appreciate their sacrifice," said Julie Budelis, Daisy Troop 834 leader.
The ten Girl Scouts, all students at Fountain Green Elementary, were also recently asked by their school to write letters to Soldiers as part of the Patriot Program Requirements. Budelis decided to marry both tasks into one and expand on the "Respecting Authority" petal by having the girls create valentines for local Soldiers as well.
Sgt. 1st Class Clifford Martin, senior enlisted advisor for the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center, or CERDEC, was in attendance to receive the generous gifts and noted that the respect was mutual.
"Being a Girl Scout is an admirable accomplishment, one that calls for courage and confidence," Martin said. "We are happy to be here amongst the next generation of great leaders who will make a difference in their schools, communities and the world through good citizenship."
Martin, along with several other CERDEC Soldiers, presented each Girl Scout from Daisy Troop 834 with a special CERDEC pin as a token of their appreciation.
"I think this was a wonderful project and I am thrilled students from our school participated in it," said Alison Donnelly, principal at Fountain Green Elementary. "I also appreciate the willingness of the Soldiers to visit the girls to thank them."
"We hope today's meeting will show that every Solider is in our hearts," said Budelis.
"Respecting Authority" is a part of the Girl Scouts' Law, which states: "I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout."
Related Links:
U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command
U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command
U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center
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