My Valley Forge Story: Mary Ellen Covlove Heisy

My first memory of Valley Forge was traveling to the park by train from Wernersville as a grade school Girl Scout. The trip was so memorable, because I think it was the only time I ever took a train from the Wernersville Train Station, which was located only 3 blocks from my house. I did some research and discovered the Girl Scout 50^th Anniversary was in 1962. There were special charters organized by the Girl Scout Council of Berks County headquartered in Reading for a “pilgrimage to Valley Forge” on the Reading Company train. The Reading Railroad was winding down passenger service, and passenger service ended the following June 1963. There were massive celebrations nationwide for the Golden Jubilee celebration during the spring and summer of 1962. My mother went as a chaperone, so my younger sister, not yet a Girl Scout, was able to go along too. It was the first time I was ever with so many Girl Scouts, all in uniform, attending one outing. Unlike the Boy Scouts, who camped overnight at the Park at another time, the girls only did a daytrip, but at least we were able to go. Valley Forge created a lasting positive memory for me.

Tags: valley forge national historical park, my valley forge story, vf50, 50 years of valley forge