Saluting Those Who Protect Our Freedoms

May 7, 2003

By Marion F. Swan and Ellen Christie, staff writers

	Girl Scouts preparing to raise the flag.

Some people can only dream of the freedoms that Americans enjoy each and every day. Consider taking a moment on May 17th to pay tribute to those who are on the front line protecting those freedoms.

What Is Armed Forces Day?

Established in 1950 by President Harry S. Truman, Armed Forces Day pays special tribute to those brave men and women who give of themselves to defend our nation. Celebrated annually on the third Saturday in May, this year's commemoration will be held on May 17, under the banner "United For Freedom."

Honoring Hometown Heroes

Girl Scouts from Spokane, Washington, will join thousands of their neighbors in saluting the men and women of Fairchild Air Force Base on Saturday, May 10, during the area's annual Lilac Festival. With honoring local military personnel as one of the main goals of the Festival, it is scheduled each year to coincide with Armed Forces Day. For their part, hundreds of Girl Scouts will be participating in the "Junior Lilac Parade."

Lighting the Way

Girl Scouts in Lima, Ohio, decided to "light the way home" for troops serving in the Middle East and Persian Gulf. Using their own handcrafted posters, the girls asked their neighbors to place electric candles in the windows of their homes and businesses. Eleven-year-old Beth summed up the project eloquently, "I think it's important to put a candle in the window because it shows we care."

Respecting the Red, White, and Blue

There is no more recognized emblem of our country than the red, white, and blue of the American Flag. What better way to show respect for our Armed Forces than to show respect for our flag. Girl Scouts in Texas will commemorate Armed Forces Day with a flag retirement ceremony on May 19. Fort Hood has donated the two flags that will be retired.

Meanwhile in Syracuse, New York, Girl Scouts have shown their patriotism by collecting more than 300 old and tattered flags. The flags will be properly retired at two ceremonies this spring—one at their Girl Scout camp in Tully, New York, and the other in conjunction with veterans at the New York State Fairgrounds.

A Taste of Home

In trying to bring a little bit of Americana to military personnel deployed overseas, some girls from Seattle to Connecticut and all points in between have been busy encouraging their neighbors to buy an extra box of Girl Scout Cookies® so it can then be sent to military personnel overseas. This effort has received wide recognition. On April 9, Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) praised the "Cookies From Home" project of Girl Scouts from the Upper Peninsula in a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

To learn more about Girl Scout activities in your area or how to volunteer, call your local Girl Scout council or (800) GSUSA 4 U.