“Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause.”― Abraham Lincoln

On Memorial Day we remember and honor the men and women who have died while serving in our armed forces. Girl Scouts around the country celebrate Memorial Day by placing flags at veterans’ cemeteries, visiting veterans’ hospitals, participating in parades, decorating banners, holding flag ceremonies, and more. Troops draw posters and write cards of thanks to send to active duty soldiers, veterans’ homes and VA (Veterans Affairs) medical centers as well as sending cases of cookies overseas every year to give our soldiers a small taste of home in thanks for their service. To add to our organization’s proud history of honoring our armed forces and help girls understand the resources places like the VA offer to their communities we established Girl Scout Day at the Dayton VA. So what does the VA do and what happens at this annual event? So glad you asked!

The Dayton VA was authorized in 1865 by President Abraham Lincoln as the first-ever national soldiers’ and sailors’ asylum to provide medical and convalescent care for discharged members of the Union Army and Navy volunteer forces in Dayton Ohio. 150 years later, Dayton VA still serves our soldiers through a variety of services all housed on the west Dayton property.  It was here that the Second Annual Girl Scout Day at the Dayton VA took place.

Over 40 Girl Scout Junior and Cadettes attended this event on Saturday, April 7.  The day started at the Dayton VA Medical Center’s state of the art Simulation Lab.  It was there girls got a snap shot in medical services and practices by learning CPR, First Aid, proper hand washing techniques and general patient care.  Additionally the girls got to see how robots are being used in the medical field among other activities. In the afternoon the girls switched through four activity sessionsincluding planting trees with the OSU Extension Master Gardeners, researching genealogy with volunteer Carolyn Barns, touring the facilities and learning VA History at Putnam Library.

The girls left with a better knowledge of all the VA has to offer, the history behind it, and a deeper appreciation for all that our veterans have done and are currently doing for our country.

On this Memorial Day it is important to express our gratitude for the sacrifices members of the military have made and we know that the girls who attended the Dayton VA event, and Girl Scouts across the nation, will  be doing just that!