The 60 Year Sisterhood: The 'Rugged Dozen' Reunite
The year was 1951: The Korean War
continued, Mickey Mantle hit his first Home Run, and the Girl Scouts of the "Rugged
Dozen" Plainfield International Friendship Troop No.134 prepared to travel
abroad. Their purpose? To help promote
international friendship! With the help of their leader, Mrs. Else Fuchs, and
with their motto 'In '53 we shall be wise enough to sail the sea,' in the
forefront of their minds, the group of Senior Girl Scouts raised enough money to
cover their travel expenses. Finally, on June 19th, 1953, they set sail aboard
the S.S. Veendam bound for Southhampton, England; the first stop on their six
nation tour.
Though their adventures abroad
only lasted three months, the bonds that these young women forged have lasted a
lifetime. In August 2013, the women of the Rugged Dozen came together for a
reunion camping trip at Oak Spring to celebrate 60 years as a troop. Some travelled from as far as New York,
Florida and even New Zealand to have fun and catch up with their sister Girl Scouts,
and honor those that could not be there. Mrs. Trudy Grimm, a member of the Rugged
Dozen, says that this particular trip is just their regular reunion, but no
less special to them: "It's just
our reunion! I believe the last time we got together was 5 years ago. It's
almost always at Oak Spring. We even planted a memorial tree there for our
troop leader."
Mrs. Grimm also attributes a lot
of her success to the Girl Scouts: "You know the motto 'Be Prepared?' I
find it to be true; being a Girl Scout prepares you for life in a way that
nothing else does. You make these lifelong friends and connections." When
asked what advice she had for new scouts, Mrs. Grimm said "My advice for
new scouts is this: Make the most of the countless opportunities that are
available to you through the program. There is just so much more a girl can be
involved with now that will help prepare them for life!"
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