O ur troop sold more than a hundred wreaths this year! A big thank you to

all the girls and adults who helped with this service project and fundraiser.

AHG troops performed a moving National Wreaths Across America Remembrance Ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 14, at the U.S. Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery, located in Washington, D.C. Volunteers and AHG troops laid an astounding 1,080 wreaths on graves dating from World War I up to Korea and Vietnam.

Wreath cleanup will be Saturday afternoon on January 25. Look for an email with more details.�

AHG Troops Placed 1,080 Wreaths at National Cemetery

Be Prepared for the AHG Multi-Troop Lock-in, Jan. 24-25

W hy come to the AHG multi-troop lock-in?

Because an AHG girl is always prepared for anything—including mummy rolls, self-

defense moves, first-aid knowledge, songs, games, snacks, and above all, fun!

Our troop is hosting the multi-troop lock-in this

year at Pender on Jan. 24 to 25, from 6:30 p.m. on Friday to 9 a.m. on Saturday. Girls will work toward earning

their Emergency Preparedness badge during the lock-in, plus have tons of fun (and probably little sleep!).

Tenderhearts, Explorers, Pio-neers and Patriots can attend, although first-grade THs must be accompanied by an adult to spend the night (otherwise, first graders must be picked up by 10 p.m.)

Girls should bring a sleeping bag and bedroll, pillow/stuffed animal, paper/pencils for notes, toiletries, clothes for Saturday and a nut-free snack to share.

If you haven’t registered yet,

A M E R I C A N H E R I T A G E G I R L S

T R O O P V A 1 9 0 7

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 4 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014

The Heritage Star

American Heritage

Girls Units

♦ Pathfinders: Age 5 or kindergarteners

♦ Tenderhearts: 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders

♦ Explorers: 4th, 5th and 6th graders

♦ Pioneers (Pi): 7th and 8th graders

♦ Patriots (Pa): 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders

Upcoming Events

Troop Meeting 1/6

Lock-in at Pender With Local Troops

1/24-25

Troop Meeting 1/27

Camp Fundraiser 2/1

Troop Meeting 2/3

Camp Fundraiser 2/8

Scout Sunday 2/9

Troop Meeting 2/17

Troop Meeting 2/24

there’s still time! Check your email for a registration form and additional information or ask a leader for the lock-in flyer. On-time registration ends Jan. 13, so don’t delay (late registration ends Jan. 21). �

Wreaths adorn graves of veterans after AHG troops and other participants laid the greenery.

Monthly Meet ing Format 6:30 – 6:45: Opening Ceremony & Troop Sharing

6:45 – 7:30: Unit Time (except for special troop activities)

7:30 – 7:45: Cleanup and Closing Ceremony

8:00: Pioneers/Patriot dismissal in Fellowship Hall

Please sign in your girls in the Fellowship Hall when you arrive. Parents are encouraged to stay for the opening ceremony, as this is when announcements are made.

Please do not hang out in the narthex or sanctuary prior to our start time. �

W e’ll be selling Abby Candles and Hearts & Soul Candies in February to raise money for girls going to summer camp.

This year, Tenderhearts will be at Camp Highroads in Middle-burg, Va., August 17 to 20. Cost will be $210 per girl and $125 per adult. Explorers, Pioneers and Patriots will enjoy Camp Crossroads in Lowesville, Va., July 28 to August 2. Cost will be $290 per girl and $150 per girl.

Our first summer camp fundraiser will be at Twins Ace Hardware in Fairfax, Va., on Saturday, February 1, from 11 to 3 p.m. We are working on two more locations in the Chantilly area for Satur-day, February 8, around the same time. A Signup Genius link with more details and sign up times will be sent later this month.�

Candy, Candles Camp Fundrai ser

Stay Informed! Visit www.penderumc.org, click on Connect With Others, then American Heritage Girls,

for downloadable forms, including badge and service logs, schedules and more information about our troop. �

Building Women of Integrity: Respectful

T he word “respectful” hasn’t gotten a lot of, well, respect lately. Many of us seem to think being re-

spectful is all about outward conformance to rules and regulations. But being respectful is so much more than just how we act—it’s also about our hearts. Because we can be respectful with our actions but be disrespectful in our hearts. Which do you think is more pleasing to God?

A girl who has a respectful heart will want to show that respectfulness through her actions. We work hard on our opening and closing flag ceremony because we want to be respectful of our flag. We work hard on being quiet when others are talking because we want to be respectful of our leaders and friends. We work hard on honoring others for their service to us, in ways we see and ways we don’t see.

As American Heritage Girls, we should embody respect-fulness when serving others in our communities, both local and national, as when we laid wreaths on the graves of men and women with which we had no connection other than our citizenship in this country.

As we start a new year, let’s all make a commitment to fulfill the “respectful” part of our creed by honoring our country, being obedient to those in authority and being courteous to all. �

Level Award Deadline

I f you are in the last year of your level, it’s time to wrap up your level award! Tenderhearts can earn the

Sacagawea Award, Explorers the Lewis and Clark Award, Pioneers the Harriet Tubman Award, and Patri-ots the Dolley Madison Award.

Check with your unit leaders to make sure you are on track, as all requirements for the award must be com-plete by the first meeting in February. Board of Reviews start Feb. 3, and are scheduled each Monday meeting through March 31.

During the Board of Review, girls share with AHG lead-ers and parents what they have learned while doing their Level Award and what they enjoy most about AHG. Please contact Elaine Puschmann or Kathleen Leffas, our advancement managers, with any questions.�

Helping the Homeless

I f you’re wondering why our troop is only meeting twice in January, it’s because Pender United Methodist Church is

serving the homeless community as a hypothermia shelter in the middle of the month. So while you’re home an extra evening this month, think about the homeless in our community and offer a prayer on their behalf—and give thanks for the warm home you enjoy.