Ellise Wedge goes for the Gold
Ellise Wedge is completing her Girl Scout Gold Award by creating a ceremonial firepit in Hopkins near the Veterans Memorial and Flagpole where the scouts can properly burn retired flags. The project will address a need of the Hopkins community by assisting with putting to rest the flags that have been turned in for disposal. Photo: courtesy of Ellise Wedge
Just as with the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts have a special community based award that the girls hope to accomplish before graduating from high school. The Gold Award is present to young women who take time to assess the needs of their community then accomplish a task that will address one identified need.
Ellise Wedge has done just that. Currently a junior at Allegan High School and a student in the Early College Program at the Allegan Area Tech Center, Ellise has decided to culminate her eleven years with Allegan Girl Schout Troop 80024 by creating a special firepit in Hopkins.
This will be a special place where ceremonies can be held for retired flags to be properly burned. Why Hopkins? Though Ellise is a student and Girl Scout in Allegan, she is also a member of the Hopkins Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4-H Club. As the reporter for these groups, she became aware that an Allegan Eagle Scout had built flag depository boxes which are located at the Allegan American Legion Hall and Allegan Fire Station #1.
Hopkins had been collecting retired flags, but there was no place in Hopkins to hold the disposal ceremony. “My project will unite Allegan County members by the remembrance and honoring of American patriotism through a flag retirement ring in the Village of Hopkins,” stated Wedge. “Not only will this retirement ring bring people together, but it will give people a place to retire their flags in the respectful and proper order since there in no place to do it in Hopkins.”
As a Girl Scout, Wedge has experienced building community through the completion of badges, selling cookies, attending Camp Merrie Woode, learning basic life skills, and interacting with nature. “I think that all of these opportunities, especially selling Girl Scout cookies have improved my skills for public speaking,” shared Wedge. “Selling and marketing a product really set me up for the skills I have today for public speaking. I’m always thankful for that along with doing camping and fun things where I hang out
with my friends.” The ceremonies at the fire ring held a special memory. “Our troop has stressed learning how to be a role model and respect people who have come before us to make life better for us. Now that we are older, we concentrate more on doing community action rather than completing badges. Learning respect and giving us opportunities to be thankful for what people older than us have done.”
When discerning what project could impact the people of a community, Ellise learned that Hopkins honored the veterans and those who had served their community.
“Hopkins recently started collecting flags, so my project focused on providing a pit that could get the community involved in retiring those flags. I knew the project would be sustainable and have a long lasting impact which is one aspect of a Gold Award project.”
The location will be at the Hopkins Community Reformed Church. “I wanted to place it in the center of Hopkins at the Veteran’s Memorial and flagpole, but there was not enough room. So, we are putting it at the church which is right next to the park,” explained Wedge.
“I wanted it to be seen so others could participate and ask questions to learn about the firepit and the ceremony.”
Once the location was identified, the planning and gathering of materials began. “Seabright
Products in Hopkins is donating the fire ring and covering the engraving costs,” stated Wedge. “To protect it because it cannot be used to burn garbage or other things, there will be a cover. My fundraiser is to place pavers around the fire ring. Each paver will be engraved. People can sponsor pavers to honor someone and have them engraved in memory of people. They can include messages, and put their name or not. The profits from the sale of the pavers will be used to create the remainder of the ceremony area.”
Wedge has launched the fundraiser for the paving bricks, the pavers can be purchased at https://forms.gle/eC1eFKAKud8rVH2B9 for an 8”x 8” engraved brick or https://forms.gle/ngdfv9YsPzdk6pvm6 for a 4”x 8” engraved brick.
As Wedge continues her education to complete her associates of arts degree with Lake Michigan College at the Allegan Tech Center, to continue her work with the Hopkins FFA and 4-H acting as chapter reporter, and to raise and show lambs and rabbits, and to share her music at Peace Lutheran Church in Otsego, she will prepare to begin the construction of the Flag Retirement Ring in Hopkins.
The project definitely meets the requirements for a prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award – She will utilize all that she has learned in Girl Scouts to address a need in a community where the project can have a sustainable effect for others.
As she states, there is a team of adults and leaders who have been instrumental in honing her skills. Now, she is on her way to successfully completing a project step-by-step that will achieve her desire to show respect and honor those who came before her to make her life better.
The Allegan County News
Written By: Gari Voss
February 19, 2026
