A Maplewood Girl Scout troop leader and thousands of others participated in a bridging ceremony across the George Washington Bridge to mark the organization’s passage into its own next century.
As many as 2,500 Girl Scouts crossed the George Washington Bridge Sunday as part of an historic event sponsored by the Girl Scout Councils of New Jersey marking the 100th anniversary celebration of Girl Scouting.
Maplewood's Georgette Sullivan-Bauman was there. A Girl Scout troop leader, Sullivan-Bauman's girls are all now in college. Here's her report from the scene:
Although my Girl Scout Troop of 13 years went to college this year, I couldn't resist participating in this historic event. I drove to Ridgefield Park, where I parked and was shuttled 4 miles to Martha Washington Way. I had a 9 a.m. crossing time (times were staggered so the bridge was never overcrowded) so I went directly to the bridge. The enthusiasm among the attendees was amazing. Girl Scouts ranging from Daisies (5 and 6 years old) to Ambassadors (16 and 17 years old) and their leaders/chaperones were giddy with excitement. The walk across the bridge was very windy and cold, but no one seemed to mind. Everyone was taking photos and enjoying the beautiful views.
I could feel that Girl Scout camaraderie that makes scouting so wonderful! Once I walked back across the bridge to New Jersey, I stopped by the activity booths. The girls were busy making crafts, coloring uniforms on Girl Scout paper dolls, having their hair braided, scaling a rock-climbing wall, learning dance steps, taking zumba classes and more. The Hudson River Museum and Liberty Science Center had booths, too. I enjoyed the display of uniforms from the past. I saw one woman wearing one of the very first Girl Scout uniforms, complete with badges. Lunch was served in adorable (reusable) Flomo bags.
Another Maplewood mother of a Girl Scout told us her daughter's troop did not participate due to the $50 per person cost of the event.
New Jersey’s First Lady Mary Pat Christie was spoke after the Girl Scouts’ ceremonial “bridging” event, during which thousands of girls, parents and others walked across the bridge’s southern walkway, starting and ending in Fort Lee.
Earlier this month, the Port Authority lit the “necklace lights” on the George Washington Bridge green in honor of the Girl Scouts’ 100th anniversary; the green lights will continue nightly throughout the month of November, according to the Port Authority.
On Sunday, the Hudson River near the bridge was also dyed green in honor of the occasion.
Others scheduled to speak Sunday included President and CEO of the Girl Scouts of Northern NJ Helen Wronski, Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich; Bergen County Executive Kathe Donovan, Deputy Executive Director, and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Bill Baroni.
Article Source: Published November 14, 2011 http://maplewood.patch.com/articles/thousands-of-girl-scouts-bridge-across-gwb
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