Happy Veteran’s Day and a heartfelt thank you to our brave men & women who serve and have served our country! It’s important on Veteran’s Day and throughout the year to let our active military members and veterans know we are thinking of them and are thankful for their service.

Girl Scouts and Troops across Central Maryland often complete service projects to do just that. One example is Girl Scout Cadette Malerie who read a newspaper article about a military veteran, Don Downer, who was spending his own money to purchase items for military personnel stationed overseas. She was inspired to help him reach his goal of shipping out his 500th care package.

Malerie, whose dad was a Green Beret, enlisted the help of her troop members to help create care packages for the military with Don. Each of the girls selected a soldier or marine for whom they packed a box and wrote a personal note. A few weeks later, with the help of friends and family who gave generously, they helped Don reach his goal of sending 500 care packages.

Malerie and her troop continue to create care packages for the military with her Girl Scout troop as well as go to BWI/Marshall airport to meet and greet soldiers who were arriving from and departing to overseas tours of duty.

Have you done any projects to say ‘thanks’ to members of our military?