Girl Scout Daisies named 'special' Sheriff's Deputies

Reporter's note: I was invited to a meeting of a group of Girl Scout Daisies (kindergarten and first graders) who were learning about respecting authority. Our daughter was a Brownie, about 35 years ago, but a lot of what I remembered about Girl Scouts and their organization has changed. For example, there's no longer just "a Girl Scout." There are Girl Scout Daisies, Girl Scout Brownies...all the way up to Girl Scout Ambassadors. Girl Scouting has a whole new system of describing their members and age groups.

But regardless of the age group, the Girl Scout Mission applies to every girl. It reads in part: "...build(ing) girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place." And all these young Daisies repeated the Girl Scout Promise: "...to serve God and my country, to help people at all times..." On this particular day the Daisies were learning some practical applications of the part of the Girl Scout Law that reads, among a list of commitments, to "respect authority." A part of their learning about respecting authority was a visit from Blaine County Undersheriff Frank Billmayer.

Daisies learn about

respecting authority

Before Undersheriff Billmayer began visiting with the Girl Scout Daisies, Melissa Brown, one of two Scout leaders for the girls (Diane Zielinski is the other leader), read a story about some friends driving through a town. In the story the friends learn why it's important to respect and obey authority figures, like the crossing guard at the school who stops traffic so children can safely cross the streets. After some discussion about who authority figures are in the community and how they help people, Brown introduced Undersheriff Billmayer. She said "The undersheriff is an example of an authority figure who stops bad people and helps people who are having trouble."

First Billmayer explained some of the equipment that he wore on his protective vest. The girls were especially impressed with the handcuffs that were passed around. As they inspected and handled the handcuffs there were a number of excited "oh's" and "wow's" and several questions, like, "how hard would it be to get out of these?"

Then the undersheriff removed his badge and let the girls each take a closer look at it. He explained that uniforms and badges are worn by law enforcement officers so people can quickly identify someone who will help them. He said, "This badge is a symbol of the oath I had to take when I became a deputy. I had to promise that I would defend the laws of the country, the state and the county and do my best to help people."

Undersheriff Billmayer had small badges that he then passed out to each of the girls. They attached the badges to their shirts. He told the girls, "Badges should always be worn over your heart, that's because you take the oath with your heart. I am making all of you 'special deputies' with these badges. I heard you all repeat the Girl Scout Promise, that's like the oath I took. We both promised to do the right things and to help people." The girls all solemnly nodded their heads.

It sure seemed like the Girl Scout Daisies were pledging to keep the Girl Scout Promise they said at the beginning of their meeting, "...to help people at all times." We could all take a lesson from the Girl Scout Promise. The "Journal" wishes these special deputies the best as they learn the lessons of helping others.