BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Members of the community joined Girl Scout Troops 35392 and 32547 of the Black Diamond Girl Scout Council on Sunday for a Ribbon Cutting and dedication ceremony for the fire pit and pergola built by the troops.
Wooton Park, above the Raleigh County Solid Waste Authority’s Administration Office, at 200 Fernandez Drive, Beckley, WV served as the venue for the event, which saw Alexa Bieri and Lillian Meadows speaking on behalf of the troops.
During the winter of 2022 and spring of 2023, the troops worked extensively on their Silver Award; one of the highest awards in Girl Scouting. The troops conducted work on a permanent flag retirement location where retirements of US Flags could take place.
Contributions from the community at large were solicited, resulting in a beautifully constructed fire pit and pergola built almost entirely by the Scouts turns with supervision from their Troop Leaders.
The troop members themselves worked to generate funds for the nearly $6,000 endeavor, even appearing before the Beckley City Council to successfully present the idea.
David, the scouts’ Troop leader, commended the exceptional effort put forth by the members, noting their fortitude in undertaking tasks from digging and assembling to the mixing and pouring of the concrete used.
“This has been quite a project, it’s been about a year in the making,” he said.
“Basically before today, all that was here was a big gravel parking lot… These girls did every bit of this themselves. I couldn’t be more proud of these girls and all they’ve done here.”
Addressing those who had gathered for the event, the troop members noted the lack of a flag retirement location in the area as the inspiration for the fire pit as their project to earn their Silver Award.
“These Girl Scouts are changing their little corner of the world, while earning one of the highest awards in Girl Scouting and making a difference in their community which will be realized for decades to come,” read an event statement.
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