On Saturday, June 9th of this year – Troops 10044 and 10200 from Nebraska went to Rock the Mall – Girl Scouts’ 100th Anniversary Celebration in Washington D.C. This post is a story from Wendy McDermott, who had the opportunity to join in the celebration.
Wendy is from North Platte and has been a Girl Scout for 13 years. While participating she earned her Bronze, Silver and Gold awards and she was a member of the Girl Scout Advisory Group (GSAG) for the Guiding Star area. Wendy graduated this spring from high school but she has become a lifetime Girl Scout member. When asked why she participated and continues to participate in Girl Scouts, she told me, “because of the life changing experiences and I wanted to stay through it until the end.” She will be attending the University of Nebraska at Kearney this fall.
Thanks for sending me the story and pictures Wendy!
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East Coast Adventure – by Wendy McDermott
This summer, alongside my troop, I had the opportunity to go to Washington D.C, New York City and Niagara Falls. We all decided to go about five years ago when our troop leaders, Jae and Sue, came back from the 95th celebration of Girl Scouting. We earned money for this trip by selling a lot of cookies and nuts. I also did fundraisers and worked during the summers and saved my wages for this trip.
We started our journey in McCook, Nebraska where we jumped on an Amtrak train that took us to Chicago, then from Chicago to Washington D.C. The main purpose of the trip was to take part in the 100th anniversary celebration of Girl Scouts, “Rock the Mall” in Washington D.C. (to look at the national website with slideshows click here). The Sing-Along was awesome [Comment from Erin (host blogger): Girl Scouts has a long tradition of holding Sing-Alongs on the National Mall. We gathered for our 85th, 90th and 95th anniversary. This year, more than 200,000 Girl Scouts lined the National Mall and sang some of their favorite Girl Scout songs, listened to the music and joined together to celebrate the strength of the Girl Scout movement] and we met people from across the nation. Anyone who registered for the Rock the Mall program received a white t-shirt that said “Rock the Mall” on it. While on the Metro ride to the event, the Metro Car became very crowded by a sea of girls and young women adorning the white shirts. There were girls of all different ages, from the youngest Daisies to the most tenured volunteers. First Lady, Michelle Obama, spoke to the crowd via telecast. Then there was concert – porta-potties lined the Mall on almost all sides! We were able to take part in the flash mob during the song “Ignite”.
While we were in D.C., we also did some sightseeing. We took a limo to see all the national memorials at night. During the day we went to the National Archives, National Museums and the Pentagon Memorial. While visiting Arlington Cemetery we saw the changing of the guards and at the National Museum of Natural History we got to see “Rex” the dinasour off of the movie Night at the Museum. We also went and saw Ford Theatre and the Patterson’s house along with Madam Tussauds Wax Museum.
After D.C., we made our journey up to New York City. The first night we were there we went and saw the Broadway play Wicked and then walked Times Square until 2 a.m. in the morning! We spent the rest of our time in NYC visiting Ground Zero, taking a ferry ride around the Statue of Liberty and stopping by the GSUSA’s National Headquarters. While at the headquarters we got to meet the CEO, Anna Maria Chávez (!), and sat on a bench that was from Juliette Low’s time with Girl Scouts. We looked through the Girl Scout’s museum and met an employee who was from Nebraska. (Go figure!?!)
The last stop on the trip was to Niagara Falls. We got to see the tightrope wire that Nik Wallenda walked across and made history. From Niagara Falls we hopped back onto the Amtrak train back to Chicago and then Chicago back to McCook.
I thought this trip was the chance of a lifetime. I would go again in a heartbeat to take part in making history. My favorite parts were Ground Zero and the changing of the guards at Arlington Cemetery. If they have another big Sing-Along planned in the future I probably will go to that too.
On the train - on the way!
Sightseeing in DC during the Rock the Mall event
At Rock the Mall
More sightseeing - Lincoln Memorial
Changing of the guard
At GSUSA Headquarters
In the GSUSA lobby with our National CEO Anna Marie Chavez!
Niagra Falls
Museum of Natural History
Group shot. Cheese!
More Museum of Natural History