Juliette Gordon Low, founder of Girl Scouts of the USA, was born on October 31, 1860, in Savannah, Georgia. "Daisy," as she was affectionately called by family and friends, spent a happy childhood in her large Savannah home, now known as the Birthplace.

Young Daisy Gordon developed what was to become a lifetime interest in the arts. She wrote poems; sketched, wrote and acted in plays; and later became a skilled painter and sculptor. She had many pets throughout her life and was particularly fond of birds and dogs. Daisy was also known for her great sense of humor.

Juliette married William Mackay Low. Before her marriage, she had suffered from chronic ear infections. She had lost most of her hearing in one ear because of improper treatment. At her wedding, when she was 26, she lost hearing in her other ear after a grain of good-luck rice thrown at the event lodged in her ear, puncturing the eardrum and resulting in an infection and total loss of hearing in that ear.

In 1911, she met Sir Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, and became interested in the new youth movement. Less than a year later, she returned to the United States and made her historic telephone call to a distant cousin, saying, "I've got something for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world, and we're going to start it tonight!" On March 12, 1912, Juliette Low gathered 18 girls to register the first troop.

In developing the Girl Scout movement in the United States, Juliette brought girls of all backgrounds into the out-of-doors, giving them the opportunity to develop self-reliance and resourcefulness. She encouraged girls to prepare not only for traditional homemaking, but also for possible future roles as professional women — in the arts, sciences and business — and for active citizenship outside the home.

From the original 18 girls, Girl Scouting has grown to 3.7 million members. Girl Scouts is the largest educational organization for girls in the world and has influenced the more than 50 million girls, women and men who have belonged to it.

A speaker gives a brief narration on the life of Juliette Low, then lights a hand-held candle, saying:

SPEAKER: I light this candle for Juliette Low in commemoration of the anniversary of her birth.

Each girl in turn takes the leader’s candle and lights one of the candles on the cake, saying:

GIRL #1: This candle represents the vision that Juliette Low had of a Girl Scout Movement in the United States.

GIRL #2: This candle stands for the hope Juliette Low had for worldwide understanding through Girl Scouting.

GIRL #3: This candle represents the dream Juliette Low had for a peaceful, friendly world.

GIRL #4: This candle is for the faith Juliette Low had in the girls of the United Stated and the world to fulfill her dream.

GIRL #5: This candle is for the spirit she left, which leads us constantly to greater growth and fellowship.

GIRL #6: This candle represents the love she had for all mankind, especially the old and sick.

GIRL #7: This candle represents the millions of Girl Scouts in the United States who honor Juliette Low on this, the 141^st anniversary of her birth.

SPEAKER: Please join us in singing Girl Scouts Together.