A LOOK BACK:

You may have noticed in the past few weeks that we have some important new entrepreneurs around our city.

They are easy to identify in their green uniforms. No, they are not part of our military forces, they are the Girl Scouts of Huntington Beach. Standing proudly in front of markets, post offices, etc., these young scouts have a rich heritage in our city.

This week we’ll look back at the first week of June 1944. The fierce fighting in Europe was continuing, but back home in Huntington Beach the members from Troop 2 staged their Second Annual Court of Awards ritual in Memorial Hall at the old Civic Center at Sixth Street and Orange Avenue.

More than 200 friends and relatives filled the hall to watch 53 young scouts march in and form a horseshoe three-people deep that faced the audience. The girls stood proudly in their uniforms, except for the new members, while the color guard marched in carrying the American flag and the troop flag.

The audience and scouts placed their right hands over their hearts as they repeated the Pledge of Allegiance and then sang the national anthem.

Ardeth Frederick stood before the audience and bid them welcome, on behalf of the troop, to this special awards ceremony. When she finished speaking, Frederick lit a special candle, the Girl Scout Ideals candle, which symbolized their ideals in life.

Many tears came to the eyes of a proud parent during the investiture of the new girls who had attained the rank of tenderfoot. While Joan Bennigsdorf and Jennette Weed held lighted candles, the 18 tenderfoot scouts repeated the Girl Scout laws, after which scout leader Lois LeBard questioned each girl as to their meaning and how they applied.

Grace Oldenburg held the special Girl Scout Ideals candle while each girl stepped forward to light her own candle from it.

Oldenburg told the scouts the significance of that part of the ceremony, after which the girls repeated the promise, and then all sang, “When E’er You Make a Promise.” The scouts one by one ceremoniously placed their candles into tall candelabra were they remained lit for the rest of the ceremony.

Twenty-eight girls attained the rank of second class that year and received their badges from Mrs. Jordan. Once all the girls received their badges, they stood at attention and gave a Girl Scout salute before returning to their seats.

Fae Clapp and Mrs. McClintock handed out nearly 100 proficiency badges in homemaking, music, dance, crafts, sports, arts, nature and literature.

Joan Jordan, Bobbie McClintock, Robbie Rider and Irene Smith came forward to receive badges signifying they attained the rank of first class. Alice Sturgeon came forward and called the names of the girls who concluded a year of service and handed them their membership star.

Mary Goodman presented troop numerals and identification emblems to all the girls as a surprise from the adult troop committee and leaders.

Robbie Rider presented Lois LeBard with the special Blue Thanks Badge as a token of appreciation from Troop 2 for all her work as scout leader.

The awards ceremony concluded with Patsy Hawes extinguishing the candle of Girl Scout Ideals that had been kept lighted all through the ceremony. But the event was not over yet. The girls sang two scout songs and presented a series of skits, one from each patrol in the troop.

Jane Clapp invited friends and relatives to look at the girls’ workbooks on display in the hall. Members of Mary Goodman’s and Alice Sturgeon’s patrols helped serve refreshments of cupcakes iced in green and gold and glasses of fruit punch.

Lois LeBard introduced several adults closely connected with the Girl Scouts, including Della Miller, president of the Huntington Beach Elementary PTA, the organization sponsoring the troop; Ethel Dwyer, PTA chairwoman; and Agnes Smith, the school’s principal.

This kind of event is still important in the life of a young Girl Scout as she goes about earning merit badges and the respect of her friends and relatives.

JERRY PERSON is the city’s historian and a longtime Huntington Beach resident. If you have ideas for future columns, write him at P.O. Box 7182, Huntington Beach, CA 92615.