Girl Scouts took part in the many celebrations of the 200th birthday of the United States in 1976.
Girl Scouts of the USA
The national organization, GSUSA, issued two commemorative patches. A third patch (on right) was selected from girl submissions.
Councils
Most councils issued at least one patch of their own. The local patches marked special themed events, day camps, and more. A few created special badges that other councils rushed to adopt.
Cookies
Even the Girl Scout cookie bakers rolled out red-white-and blue patches for cookie sellers.
Whatever the source, the bicentennial patches were inevitably embroidered in bright red, white, and blue thread.
This Is a Bicentennial Patch?
Except for this one. No eagles, drums, stars, or stripes.
I’ve seen it identified as a bicentennial patch, but remained skeptical.
Later, I found a file at GSUSA that explained the connection.
As part of the nation-wide celebration, Girl Scout councils and troops were encouraged to identify “hidden heroines”; unsung women who had made significant contributions to their communities.
Hawkeye Horizons
Conestoga Council,* based in Cedar Falls, Iowa, honored their heroines at a huge bicentennial festival: “Hawkeye Horizons: A Heritage for Tomorrow.”
The celebration culminated with the presentation of “Spirit of Woman” ceramic medallions to the “hidden heroines” of Conestoga Council.
The striking design was created by Calvin Wolfe, artist and instructor at Central High School of Waterloo.
He explained his inspiration:
Symbolized in the design is the soaring spirit of the American woman who crossed the ocean, bore children, pushed handcarts, walked beside wagons, cooked, spun, wove, sewed, mended, quilted, churned and “contrived.”
She often was born, lived, and died in conditions of grinding poverty and danger. Nevertheless, she always looked forward never defeated.
A leaping flame surrounds her––symbolizing the light of civilization she preserved and cherished in ship cabins, log cabins, dugouts, sod houses, and claim shanties.
Wolfe meant the image to continue the tradition of strong American women from the 18th century into the future.
This flame our heroines gave to us.
This flame we will pass on to the women of the 21st century.
That Girl Scout flame will arrive in Washington DC in July 2026 for the next Girl Scout National Convention.
Have we met this challenge?
© 2025 Ann Robertson, writer, editor, Girl Scout historian, but NOT a Girl Scout employee.
*Conestoga Council is now part of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.
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