Dear Blog Readers–
Thanks to the kindness of Juliette Gordon Low’s great-niece, Margaret M. Seiler, I can make available to you this marvelous photograph of taken at the White House when Juliette Gordon Low was awarded the Medal of Freedom on May 29, 2012.
On the left is Anna Maria Chavez, CEO of the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. To the right of President Obama are Richard Platt (Juliette’s great-nephew), Margaret M. Seiler (Juliette’s great-niece), Audrey Platt (Richard’s wife) and Connie Lindsey, Chair of the National Board of Directors of the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. With them are five really lucky girls!
At the ceremony, President Obama had this to say about Juliette Gordon Low:
“Growing up in Georgia in the late 1800s, Juliette Gordon Low was not exactly typical. She flew airplanes. She went swimming. She experimented with electricity for fun. (Laughter.) And she recognized early on that in order to keep up with the changing times, women would have to be prepared. So at age 52, after meeting the founder of the Boy Scouts in England, Juliette came home and called her cousin and said, “I’ve got something for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world. And we’re going to start it tonight!” A century later, almost 60 million Girl Scouts have gained leadership skills and self-confidence through the organization that she founded. They include CEOs, astronauts, my own Secretary of State. And from the very beginning, they have also included girls of different races and faiths and abilities, just the way that Juliette would have wanted it.”
As he awarded the Medal of Freedom, President Obama said this:
“Richard Platt, accepting on behalf of his great aunt, Juliette Gordon Low. An artist, athlete and trailblazer for America’s daughters, Juliette Gordon Low founded an organization to teach young women self-reliance and resourcefulness. A century later, during the “Year of the Girl,” the Girl Scouts’ more than 3 million members are leaders in their communities and are translating new skills into successful careers. Americans of all backgrounds continue to draw inspiration from Juliette Gordon Low’s remarkable vision, and we celebrate her dedication to empowering girls everywhere.” [1]
Thanks to Margaret Seiler for the use of the photo. Please don’t use it without her permission.
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[1] The President’s remarks can be found on the White House website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/05/29/remarks-president-presidential-medal-freedom-ceremony
What a wonderful experience for the family! Wow!
This is a wonderful collection and a beautiful picture of Juliette Low’s nice and newphew and of course our GS President and CEO as well as those five delightful girls. What an honor for them.
I also understand the family has now given the Medal to the
Birthplace so it can be enjoyed by Girl Scouts everywhere. I also have this to add about Richard Platt. I met him in Savannah and was fortunate enough to spend an afternoon with him and six other women on a private tour of the US Coast Guard’s Eagle. He is delightful, very much committed to public service and dresses up as his great grandfather (JL’s grandfather) for Savannah history days and events. JL’s grandfather William Washington Gordon I was mayor of Savannah several times. He has also been very involved with the philharmonic board for Savannah.
A fabulous honor for a fabulous woman…thanks for sharing. Our three daughters were all Girl Scouts and gained so much useful knowledge. They were able to discover their own unique qualities while learning to appreciate the differences in people of all colors and abilities. We could not be prouder of their accomplishments and the caring individuals they have all become, in part due to their involvment with the Girl Scout organization and its Mission to build girls “of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place”.
Congrats Juliette! You started something wonderful! I have been a Girl Scout for 35+ years! I believe so strongly in the program that even though my own girls are 30+ I still volunteer for many jobs and will continue to do so until I no longer can!