With Sacrifices of Veterans in Mind, Francesca Salas '23 Receives Gold Award

Since she was in kindergarten, Francesca Salas of Warren has emerged as a leader in her community with compassion and service through the Girl Scouts of America.

A Senior Ambassador with the Girl Scouts Heart of New jersey, she received her Gold Award on Flag Day, June 14, 2021, during a special ceremony at the Warren Municipal Building. Francesca has also earned her Silver and Bronze Awards.

For her Gold Award, Francesca, a junior at Mount Saint Mary Academy in Watchung, completed 120 hours of service to her community by honoring the brave and selfless sacrifices of 14 Warren Township veterans to the United States of America.

“Honoring our veterans is something I felt our community needed,” said Francesca. “I created 14 display cases with individually framed certificates and an American flag folded in a triangle. The full enshrined display is featured at the Suzie B. Boyce meeting room at the Warren Town Hall, spotlighting and honoring each veteran and their life of service. I also held an assembly at my former elementary school, Bayberry School in Watchung, where there are 200 students and teachers. I spoke about Flag Day and what it means to be an American.”

“My inspiration was to keep their stories alive through my flag and certificate display cases. I know my project has positively impacted these veterans and their families, but what these heroes don’t realize is the lasting impression they have made in my life,” she said.

After interviewing each veteran, Francesca crafted a photo book highlighting their stories of service. The book, “A Salute to Our Veterans,” remains on display at the Warren Public Library.

When she received her Gold Award, Francesca was applauded by the veterans and their families, members of the Lions Club and the Watchung Hills Elks Lodge (whose donations made the Gold Award project possible), township committee members, local policemen, Mark Krane (township administrator), Brightview and Chelsea senior center veterans, Deputy Mayor Victor Sordillo, and Mayor George Lazo.

Deputy Mayor Sordillo said, “The display showed Salas’ dedication to the community and to our freedoms and what makes Warren, New Jersey great.”

Township Committeewoman Jolanta Maziarz added, “The township needs more aspiring female leaders like Francesca Salas.”

Committeeman Gary DiNardo praised Francesca “for her effort to honor veterans which was greatly needed in town and for bringing the community together on Flag Day.

“In the spring, there will be another ceremony from the Girl Scouts, and I will receive my Gold Award plaque,” she shared.

Francesca said, “Girl Scouts gave me the desire to know how to make the world a better place. I am a lucky girl to have so much support in my life, and now I’m going to use this support to help others.”

“I’ve been a Girl Scout for 12 years – almost my whole life – since I was five,” she continued. “It made a big impact on my life. I’ve created so many incredible bonds with my community. It has empowered me to be a leader. I have found my voice and I hope to empower younger Girl Scouts through my work with veterans by obtaining my Gold Award.”

Francesca has completed other projects with the sacrifices of local veterans in mind. She won an Elks Club essay award for the “Americanism Essay Contest.”

“I was inspired to write this essay in 2016 because I love America and I have a deep respect for veterans,” she shared. “My grandfather was a veteran in the Navy who told me many impactful stories when I was younger.”