Westlake Sophomore Is Now a Golden Girl

Mikaela Gerring, a 15-year-old Westlake High School sophomore, completed her Girl Scout Gold Project earlier this month, creating a memorial to celebrate local veterans.

The Details

Earning the highest honor available to a scout did not emerge overnight. Gerring has been developing the project since August of last year, and unveiled her memorial on Nov. 6 at Columbus Elementary School’s 11th Annual “Take a Vet to School Day.”

But the process of saluting veterans began about a half dozen years ago, during the pandemic.

The memorial itself is a bench engraved with the words “Thank You for Your Service” in the back, along with a flag retirement box, situated in front of Columbus Elementary, across from the school’s flag pole.

“She chose this project as a way to teach future generations to express gratitude, connect with those in the community that have made sacrifices and preserve the history of our veterans,” explained Gerring.

Christine Galbo, a fifth grade teacher at Columbus Elementary, and Alison Bergman, a Girl Scout Heart of Hudson volunteer and founder of Operation Cookie Drop, assisted the younger Gerring with the project.

Gerring described her project as a “lasting tribute our whole community can visit.”

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