Local Girl Scout Creates Flag Database for Veterans
Warwick, R.I. (July 1, 2025)—Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England is excited and proud to announce that Madison Donnelly from Jamestown, RI has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting.
Madison’s Gold Award project is titled Our Flag, Their Stories. For her Gold Award project, Madison created a database of flags with information about local veterans. Numerous times a year, Jamestown flies the flags that were on the caskets of local veterans. These flags tell the stories of heroes, and those who choose to sacrifice. Since there was no proper database of these flags or information about all the veterans, Madison decided to change that.
She started her project by working with the local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War posts by creating a catalogue of each flag. Most flags included the veteran’s name, rank, and branch of service. Madison then researched each veteran to create a biography. She utilized historical society’s records, online searches, cold calling relatives, and word of mouth. After she gathered all the information, she created a website where this information could be accessible to all.
Madison also created a QR code for each flag that would be attached to the flagpole every time it was flown; this code connected to the biographies she created. Madison created entries for over 150 flags that were donated by veteran’s families. The first time the flags were flown with the QR codes attached, Madison was overwhelmed by the feedback she received. This project will allow Madison’s community to continue to remember the sacrifice and service of those who came before them.
“I grew up as a military kid. From a very young age, I understood the importance of valuing our veterans and sharing their stories. My own family sacrificed a lot because of my father’s years of service.
When I learned that our town did not have a way of sharing the biographies of the veterans whose burial flags are flown in town many times a year, I knew I could make a difference.
Having a way to share their stories of service and sacrifice is not important only to their families, but to generations of Jamestowners to come.” said Madison Donnelly, Gold Award Girl Scout.
About the Girl Scout Gold Award
Since 1916, Girl Scouts have been making meaningful, sustainable change in their communities and around the world while earning this award. The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting, acknowledges the power behind each Gold Award Girl Scout’s dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others. These young women are courageous leaders and visionary change makers. They are our future, and it looks bright!
Madison will join the millions of Girl Scout alum around the world who have successfully created, developed, and executed “Take Action” projects that have positively impacted their communities and the world, earning Girl Scouts’ highest award.
Madison Donnelly
Gold Award Girl Scouts become innovative problem-solvers, strong and empathetic leaders, confident public speakers, and focused project managers. They learn resourcefulness, tenacity, and decision-making skills, giving them an edge personally and professionally. As they take action to transform their communities, Gold Award Girl Scouts gain tangible skills and prove they’re the leaders our world needs. The 2025 Gold Award Girl Scout class identified issues in their communities, took action, and found or created solutions to earn their Gold Awards, addressing real-life problems such as environmental sustainability, racial justice, mental and physical well-being, and gender inequality in STEM.
According to recent research, Gold Award Girl Scouts are more likely to fill leadership roles at work and in their personal lives and are more civically engaged than their non-Girl Scout peers. Eighty-seven percent (87%) of Gold Award Girl Scouts agree that earning their Gold Award gave them skills that help them succeed professionally. Seventy-two percent (72%) said earning their Gold Award helped them get a scholarship. Changing the world doesn’t end when a Girl Scout earns her Gold Award. Ninety-nine percent (99%) of Gold Award Girl Scout alums take on leadership roles in their everyday lives.
Earning the Gold Award is just one of the amazing things girls and gender-expansive youth can do as part of Girl Scouts. To join Girl Scouts or learn more about volunteering, please visit www.gssne.org/join.
We Are Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs across Southeastern New England, girls and gender-expansive youth of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves in a safe space as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges. Backed by strong friendships and trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. Girl Scouts feel comfortable trying new things without the pressure to be perfect, speaking their minds and processing their emotions in healthy ways. They discover how being different makes them special, strengthens their sense of belonging, and, ultimately, makes them proud to be themselves. That’s the magic of Girl Scouting. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit gssne.org, follow @gssne on Instagram, follow @GirlScoutsofSNE on Twitter, and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GSSNE.