Do a Good Turn Daily

   January 17, 1927 marked the passing of a great southern American and founder of one of the greatest youth organizations in this great country of ours. This group has inspired many young Americans to become legendary citizens and doers of good to the generations descending from them. This organization is the Girl Scouts of the United States of America. On this day in 1927, Juliette Gordon Low, left us this gift after her almost 70 years of life. Juliette"Daisy" Gordon Low was a product of my fair state of Georgia. She was born in Savannah, to a Confederate Captain during our nation's time of hostilities. After her first marriage,"Daisy" met Robert Baden-Powell, the Second Boer war hero and founder of the Boy Scout's of America, while living in England.  "Daisy" founded three girl guide troops in the United Kingdom and had such success that she felt compelled to found this movement in the United States.

   On a visit back to Savannah, Georgia in 1912, "Daisy" registered 18 young girls as the first American troop of Girl Guides. Behind her residence in Savannah, a family named the Nash's converted a carriage house into club rooms for the American troop. The Nash's son, Ogden grew up to become a famed poet, and one of his works pays tribute to this structure. In World War II, Liberty ship was commissioned, hull number 2446, and launched out of Savannah, Georgia. This ship was named the SS Juliette Low. In July, 1948, one day before Independence Day, President Harry Truman signed a bill certifying a stamp which held an image of "Daisy". She was the eighth woman to be on a stamp. The lists go on to include her home being named a National Historic Landmark, to having at least 3 schools and a federal building in Savannah named after her.

   The catch to the story is she did this all while being legally deaf. The point the reader should take is that one life affects countless others, one deaf woman started a movement. A movement that has spawned such greatness as famed columnist Ann Landers, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Governor Janet Napolitano, Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Nancy Reagan, Janet Reno, Lt. Col. Eileen Collins ( the first female Space Shuttle Commander and Astronaut) and hundreds of other elected officials to the house and senate, educators, CEO's, writers, doctors and wonderfully inspiring women. 

   This writing takes place during the 100 year anniversary of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America and just mere hours before I take my step daughter to her Girl Scout meeting, where not only am I a proud father and supporter. I am a member. The Girl Scout promise is: On my honor, I will try: to serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law.  That law we should all aspire to live by is a basic and good law that states: I will do my best to be:
honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place. All of this was started by a young southern woman who lost her hearing, but strived to " Do a good turn daily" as the slogan says.  What greatness will you do or receive today and how will you pay it forward.