Women Veterans Recognition Day
Girl Scouts of Colonial Coast is proud to serve military families across our country and the world. June 12 is Women Veterans Recognition Day, and we want to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary women veterans whose leadership and service continue to inspire future generations. Women like Wendy Ireland, a dedicated Girl Scout leader of Troop 30, military veteran, and Lifetime Girl Scout, exemplify the importance of women stepping into non-traditional roles and demonstrating strength, leadership, and service. Wendy is a Coast Guard veteran and her commitment is clear in her efforts to broaden girls’ horizons through military base tours, guest speakers, field trips to Coast Guard bases, and by donating “Gift of Caring” boxes to the USO in Norfolk.
“Military service has had a positive impact on my life as a Girl Scout leader and Girl Scout Alumni,” Wendy said. “We all want to become better citizens to make positive change. I truly love serving as a leader. The military teaches service members confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills. The Girl Scout program builds the exact same skill sets in just younger versions of future potential servicemembers.”
Coast Guard Veteran Wendy Ireland
Lieutenant Commander Leslie Daley
Dr. Becky with a fellow soldier in Panama
Troop 30 isn’t only influenced by the leadership styles of the Coast Guard—it also includes a Navy mom Leslie Daley, who recently retired from the Navy as a nurse at Portsmouth Naval Hospital and is transitioning to work at the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, along with Dr. Rebecca “Becky” Christi, an Air Force pediatrician at Norfolk Naval Hospital.
Dr. Becky shared, “One of my favorite memories as a Girl Scout growing up was the awesome camps that my council, Buckeye Trails in Ohio, put on for the Girl Scouts. The military and Girl Scouts both instill foundational values of contributing to your community by volunteering or donating to special causes that you feel passionate about. HER Shelter, USO of Hampton Roads, the Chesapeake Humane Society, St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children, the food bank, and the local Sheriff's Office are just a few of the places that extra cookies and small troop donations have gone to over the past four years.”
Many other caregivers in the troop also have military backgrounds and share the troop’s leadership commitment to offer a strong Girl Scout leadership experience that will help prepare girls for today and into the future — perhaps a future that includes a military career! As we honor women veterans, we celebrate their leadership in breaking barriers and inspiring girls to pursue their dreams with confidence, resilience, and compassion. Thank you for using your time and talents to make the world a better place.
(Do you have a story of military service to share? We’d love to hear from you!)
Bonus Activity: Check out all the fun Military Pride patches you can earn from GSCCC!
