Girl Scout project brings comfort to others

The Linganore student made 30 pillows and 2 fringed blankets for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans at Mologne House at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C.

Brittany chose the Mologne House because she couldn’t have access to the hospital at the center due to her age. She also worked with the Severely Injured Servicemen program at The Pentagon.

She decided to make tube-shaped pillows, because she thought they would be easier for someone in a wheelchair to move.

Brittany stayed away from the traditional red, white and blue patriotic motif and opted for a ‘‘homey” theme instead.

Gardiner’s Furniture in Westminster donated swatches of fabric, she said. ‘‘It gave them many choices to choose from because of the different fabric.”

The American Legion Auxiliary Post 191 in Mount Airy, of which she has been a member for three years, donated $100 toward her project.

It took between one and two hours to sew and stuff each pillow, Brittany said, adding she had some help because teaching others is a project requirement.

In addition to the 66 hours spent on her project, she demonstrated leadership qualities by serving as president of her Girl Scout Troop for two years, as vice president of the French Honor Society at Linganore High School and as vice president of her 4-H Club as well as being selected as the 4-H Fair Queen for 2007-08.

‘‘She’s not one of the ones I have to stay completely on top of,” said Debbie Lambert, her troop leader. ‘‘She’s fairly organized.”

Brittany came up with the idea for her Gold Award while working on her Career Award for scouts.

For that award, she visited the Naval Academy in Annapolis and the Military Academy at West Point in New York, where she shadowed a cadet.

‘‘I got my idea for this project when I first visited the military academy,” Brittany said, adding she thought crafting the pillows would allow her to ‘‘take my two interests – sewing and military – together” and provide a service to others.

‘‘One person can make a difference,” said Lambert, who did research and found that only 3 percent of eligible Girl Scouts complete earn a Gold Award. ‘‘[The Gold Award project is] a testament to what great things a person can accomplish.”

Brittany’s family held a ceremony in honor of her accomplishment.

‘‘That was real special,” said Lambert, who attended the ceremony and offered some words.