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Meaning behind traditional
trefoil
 The
traditional trefoil combines the British Girl Guide Trefoil
and the Great Seal of the United States of America. The design
itself signifies that Girl Scouts stand ready to serve their
country.
The three broad
parts of the trefoil represent the three parts of the Girl
Scout Promise. The eagle is a symbol of strength and victory.
He faces right, in the position of honor. In his talons, he
holds a shaft of arrows to symbolize might and an olive branch
to symbolize peace. In his beak, he holds a ribbon with the
words, "E Pluribus Unum," which means "Out
of many, one." The shield is a symbol of self-reliance.
Its 13 vertical stripes represent the 13 original states,
and the bar across the top of stripes represents Congress
holding the states together.
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Since 1913 Girl Scouts
have recognized adults for their efforts with the Thanks Badge
 The
Thanks Badge has been part of the Girl Scout movement since 1913 and was
created by Juliette Low so that members could give it "to anyone
to whom you owe gratitude." The badge's design was adapted from the
British Thanks Badge, which was similar, except its design centered on
a circle where Girl Scouts has an inverted triangle. The earliest pins
came in bronze and sterling silver and were enameled in green, white,
and red.
As the movement grew, the
way the Thanks Badge was awarded changed and evolved, too. The earliest
recipients tended to be leaders or, as they were then known, captains.
By the early 1920s, many badges were awarded to individuals outside the
movement and there was some feeling that the highest award should be reserved
for them only. But the need for external and internal awards continued,
and in 1927, the National Board approved a another Thanks Badge, this
one enameled in blue, white, and red, specifically for persons within
the organization.
In 1958, the original green
Thanks Badge was dropped and the present blue Thanks Badge, for "Any
adult member, volunteer, or professional who has given unusual service
to Girl Scouting," continued as the highest recognition until 1987
when the Thanks Badge II was introduced.
During World War I, the Girl
Scout movement reached across the country and grew dramatically. That
spring following the Armistice, a victory rally for all the girls' organization
that the world on the war effort was held in New York City. For this special
occasion, it was decided to give a Thanks Badge to our founder, Juliette
Low. In secret, months in advance, girls all over the country were asked
to donate a penny toward her special pin. For the founder, the badge's
green, white, and red enamel was replaced by emeralds, diamonds, and a
small ruby. On May 19, 1919, World Chief Guide Sir Robert Baden-Powell
presented the bejeweled pin to Juliette Low before an audience of 3,000
girls in Carnegie Hall. At her death in 1926, Juliette Low was buried
in her Girl Scout uniform, wearing her beloved Thanks Badge.
GSSJC has a Book of Honor
that includes most of the more than 350 volunteers that have received
the Thanks Badge in Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council. The book features
a photograph and biography of the recipients.
For information on nominating
someone for the Thanks Badge, contact the Judy Syring in the Adult Development
Department at 713-292-0254 or jsyring@sjgs.org.
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Uncle
Sam wants YOU