Generations combined in the Manor House at Edenton Retirement Community in Frederick as members of Girl Scout Brownie troop GSCNC 81360 presented their community service project to residents.

Troop members, most ages 8 or 9, began working last October on the project, which features seniors who make a significant contribution to their communities. Each girl chose a senior they believed was a amazing. They could’ve picked a grandparent or someone they met. They interviewed the person and wrote a story.

“We do have quite a few amazing seniors here at our facility,” said Linda Grossickle, Independent Living Activity Coordinator at Edenton. Grossnickle called many residents earlier that morning and asked them to come watch the girls present.

Liz Selby, assistant troop leader, opened the presentations by explaining to the residents why this project was so important for the troop members. 

“I want my daughter Margaret to grow up with more respect for seniors,” said Selby. Margaret presented twice that day — once for her own amazing senior and once for another troop member, Bailey Eller, who was visiting her grandparents in North Carolina. 

 Amazing Seniors

“Dr. Waxter likes to volunteer because he likes to help people,” said Katie Dieke, 9. Dieke focused her presentation on Dr. George Waxter, a resident of Frederick County who is extensively involved in many local organizations. He served for 10 years as the primary volunteer dentist for Mission of Mercy’s dental program.

Katie passed around photos of him volunteering, but noted the photos are only a small glimpse of what Waxter has accomplished in his life. She said although Waxter can no longer practice dentistry due to injury, he still assists other dentists at the Mission of Mercy clinic. 

McKenna Foster, 8, was introduced to Herman Townsend through her friend Cameron. Townsend, who is Cameron’s grandfather, has volunteered for more than 10 years at the Loudoun Nursing and Rehab Center in Leesburg, Va. Townsend spends his time helping the residents play games, such as bowling and bingo, and also assists with church services twice a week, according to Foster.

Foster recalled a story of how Townsend became very close to a Loudoun resident named Helen.  “Herm came everyday for many years to sit with her for breakfast, lunch and dinner until her passing,” Foster told the residents. “He was quite taken with her spunky attitude.”

“Seniors rock because they do stuff that some can’t do and that is cool,” said 9-year-old Serena Haller. In particular, Haller was speaking of her 87-year-old great-grandmother Phyllis Kirkendall. “My great-grandma Phyllis is cool because she likes to paint, sing and send cards to help cheer people up when they are sick,” she said.

Kim Foster, troop leader, helped Haller hold up several Kirkendall’s paintings. The Edenton residents were visibly thrilled with the paintings, which feature Kirkendall’s friends and family. 

Haller also presented fellow brownie scout, Chloe Smith's presentation on a woman named Miss Winnie. She is 93 and volunteers in a nursing home where she helps “lonely people and people cross the street,” according to Haller. 

You can tell that Margaret Selby, 8, really enjoyed speaking to her grandma Jeanne Shaklin during the project. Selby focused on her grandma’s crusade to honor Major Doak Weston, a pilot who lost his life in September 1945 in a crash landing near Shaklin’s home in Melrose, Mass. 

“When I decided to do my Brownie project on my Grandma Jeanne’s project, she took me and my mom and dad up to the golf course to the spot where (the crash) happened,” she said. In 1977, Shanklin wrote an article about Weston and began more than 30 years of work to have him honored for his heroism. According to Selby, the mayor of Melrose has declared that Weston will finally be honored this year, 65 years after the crash.

“I am proud of her for making sure that this man is honored,” Selby said of her Grandma Jeanne.

Bailey Eller was visiting the subject of her presentation, her Pawpaw Kenneth Eller, while Selby spoke on her behalf, telling the crowd that Eller is a United Methodist Minister in North Carolina and has been preaching for 45 years. “He even baptized Bailey when she was a baby,” said Selby. She made sure that everyone knows the picture she passed around is of Bailey in the arms of her Pawpaw. 

Eight-year-old Madison Lane chose to do her presentation on her grandmother Betty Lane. Betty sat in the audience and looks on lovingly as Madison talks about her grandmother and how she is a good cook. “She helps me do things I can’t do,” Madison said. “She loves me very much.”

Edenton residents

Edenton residents were offered the opportunity to reflect upon their lives and give the brownie scouts some insight into how life has changed throughout the years. Buddy Grubb, 95, told the girls about the importance of loving your work.

“To sit here at 95 years old and to see five young ladies like this — There is a future for this country,” said Grubb. He also told the girls to take every opportunity they have in life.

Anna Lee Bauer, 80, talked to the Brownie Scouts about how life has changed since she was a little girl.  She reflected upon a humorous story during the Depression when she fell into the hole of an outhouse wearing her brand new shoes. Her mother was upset and Bauer remembers being hosed off in the yard with cold water. 

The Brownie Scouts thanked the seniors and gave them each a heart-decorated paper bag filled with cookies. Resident Barbara Amt told the brownies, “One day you all will be amazing seniors.”

Girl Scout Mission: Girl scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low started the Girl Scouts on March 12, 1912 in Savannah, Georgia. 

There are over 3.4 million members of the Girl Scouts worldwide.

More than 50 million women in the United States were once a Girl Scout.

For information on the Girl Scouts, visit  www.girlscouts.org