At the Annual Council Meeting on May 3, 2017, Girl Scouts of Central Maryland was honored to make a special presentation to one of our extraordinary Girl Scouts who performed an act of heroism resulting in saving a life. 

On January 31, 2016, Girl Scout Melissa and some of her friends were playing outside, after spending several snow days inside, when a man approached the group. This man told Melissa’s friend Summer that he wanted her to be his friend. He proceeded to grab her and attempt to pick her up. Melissa was not far away playing on top of a snow pile, she saw and heard what was going on and knew she had to act.

Melissa then ran down the snow pile, and pushed Summer out of the stranger’s arms. The man, in turn grabbed Melissa.

Luckily, Melissa quickly remembered that her dad told her if anyone ever grabbed her by the arm to look for the weakest point, pull away as hard as she could, and yell for help. She did just that and got away sustaining only bruises to her arm from the man’s grip.

The girls then ran to one of their parent’s apartments, called the police, and gave a full report. Melissa was a 7th grader in Cadette Troop 1724 in Howard County at the time.

Melissa is extraordinary and more than represents the “R” in our G.I.R.L. (go-getter, risk-taker, innovator, leader). She took incredible risk to save a life and we are proud to have presented her with one of the highest honors bestowed upon Girl Scouts, the Bronze Cross.