For years, Heritage Elementary has had their annual veteran’s day assembly. Each year spectator’s watch as the Boy Scouts present the colors of our country. It’s an honor to post the colors in front of people who have served our country.

However, many young girls are sat in the audience as dutiful members of Girl Scouts. Both groups are aimed at making our community a better place to live, so why aren’t both being represented at the assembly?

This year, for the first time ever, Girl Scouts have been asked to assist in posting the colors. Five fifth-graders from Troop 4813 have been selected to assist two Boy Scouts in posting the colors at the Heritage Primary Veteran’s Day Assembly.

In a stint of irony, the girls in Troop 4813 were given the choice of what their journey would be this season. From the choices group leader Toni Wallace gave them, the girls unanimously chose feminism.

The fifth-graders are learning about girl empowerment, breaking the stereotypes, and defeating gender bias with each meeting. They’ve spoken with female cops, firefighters, doctors, and aren’t stopping there.

Last night, when The Tribe visited a meeting, the girls delivered a powerful chant. Mrs. Wallace asked the girls questions surrounding gender bias and stereotypes. ‘Are you just a wife? Are you just a girl? Are you less than boys? Are you less strong?’ The girls triumphantly yelled ‘NO’ to each question.

It was inspiring to see girls no older than 11 learning about equality and breaking through the stereotypes. The journey is aimed at telling the girls that, no matter what, they can dream as big as they want and be whatever they set their minds to.

In a world where the politics are so nasty and people are so violent, it was awesome to see such an innocent display of girls standing up for being girls.

Heritage letting Girl Scouts assist in posting the nation’s colors may seem small to some, but to these girls, it is one step closer to being on a level playing field for the rest of their lives.