Girl Scouting has a long history of placing civic duty above personal needs.
They were ready, willing and able to pitch in where and when they were needed as early as World War I.
Life Saving Awards
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 The early Life Saving Cross came in at least 3 different designs - the one not shown here has a "GS" at the bottom of the cross. |
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Silver or Gilt Medal of Merit |
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Girl Scout Bronze Cross
1913-Current
Life Saving Medal
Established to honor
great heroism on the part of a girl, including putting
one's life at great risk to save another's life.
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Girl Scout Silver Cross
1913-1957
Life Saving Medal
Established to honor
significant heroism, including putting one's life at
risk.
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1913-1925
Earlier titles were Badge of Merit and Gilt Medal of Merit
This award was basically a "character"
award, for being an outstanding Girl Scout, but not having put
one's life in danger. At one point is was required to have
earned this medal to achieve the Golden Eaglet. Requirements
changed over the years, causing confusion and the award was
discontinued in 1925.
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1937 -1986 Girl Scout Honorable Mention In Life Saving |
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Medal of Honor - 1987, replaced Honorable Mention Award |
World War I Era
  Girl Scout War Service Medal 1918 |
Girl Scout War Service Medal - awarded to Girl Scouts in the 1918 Third Liberty Loan and Fourth Liberty Loan programs. Girl Scouts sold Liberty Bonds or performed war-related work. If a Girl Scout had already earned the War Service Medal in the Third Liberty Loan program, she would receive a matching bar pin to attach to the medal - if she participated in the Fourth Liberty Loan program. |
 Girl Scout War Service Pin 1918 |
Earning this pin was meant to encourage girls to give thoughtful, direct service in the war effort. 3 points earned the pin, with additional points earning color-coded ribbons. A sample listing of point earning tasks: knitting wool for the Red Cross, canning jams and jellies, selling Liberty bonds. Source: Girl Scout Collector's Guide. |
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Attached is a photo of a WWI troop War
Service Award flag.
The flag is made of silk, hand-stitched,
measures 35" x 23", and has a red-white-blue ribbon, imprinted
in gold, attached at the top. The ribbon reads, [blue portion]=
"GIRL SCOUT TROOP No. 1 -- WINCHESTER, MASS." ; [blue portion]=
"THIRD LIBERTY LOAN" ; [red portion]= "FEDERAL RESERVE DISTRICT
NO. 1".
The blue sign on the frame is not part of the
original presentation piece (it's an explanation for visitors to
our museum).
We took this to the Antiques Roadshow taping
in Los Angeles 8 or 9 years ago, and they couldn't find anyone
who could give an appraisal for it.
Best regards,
Ernie Altvater
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Post World War 1
Girl Scout Community Service Pins Images: Altvaters |
After World War I ended, Girl Scouting
continued with the popular service pin program, changing the name
to Community Service program. The Community Service Pin program lasted from 1922-1931, encouraging girls to give useful service in their local community. Points were earned and recorded in a girl's personal log book and once the pin was earn, color coded ribbons were issued.
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Girl Scout Service Bureau Pin 1941-1945
Girl Scout Service Bureaus sprang up in the early 1940's in a
respond to Girl Scout pleas as to how they could help their
country during the war effort.
Using lists created by local councils, girls selected projects
and when completed, they could wear this 1/2" red enamel trefoil
pin on their uniform. This pin could be earned by Brownies,
Intermediates and Senior. Original cost - 5 cents.
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These pins are the same size as the Service
Bureau Pin (above). No information is known about them, if they were
part of the Service Bureau program, or later. Seeking any information on these pins! |
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These pins pop up
occasionally on online auctions. Not much is known about them; age,
if they were national or local, what the requirements were, when it
was offered. Additional bars are "Thrift" and "Foods", maybe others.
I have the pamphlet that came with the brass service bars you
show. There is no publication date. The cover reads" At Their
Country's service" Girl Scouting is national Defense. There are
twelve suggested activities as " training for victory" along
with the requirements for each . They are
1. Fit for Service
2. Safety
3. First Aid
4. Communication
5. Transportation
6. Loyal Citizen
7. Thrift
8. Home-making
9. Foods
10. Out-Door Skills
11. Community Service
12. Girl Scout Volunteers for Victory
Janet Hill, Archivist
Girls Scouts of Western New York
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 image: the Altvaters |
1943 War Bond pin showing the Girl Scout, Camp Fire Girls and Boy Scout emblems.
Seeking any information on these pins! |
