SANFORD — Members of Girl Scout Troop 2277 have been honoring veterans for a long time. Over the past 13 or more years, Scouts have taken care to help make sure veterans’ graves are marked at Notre Dame Cemetery in Springvale for Memorial Day.

“The girls have been going there since they were Daisies, placing flags on the graves,” said Troop Leader Julie Rose Utgard.

Her co-leader, Brooke Hume remembers making the annual trek to the cemetery. She was a Girl Scout with Troop 2277 when they first began and later came back to become a leader.

Each year, the girls place a flag on the grave of each veteran they know is buried there. But the map of the Catholic cemetery in Springvale hadn’t been updated since 2003, which meant missing someone became more likely.

So seven of the Scouts, all juniors in grades four or five, decided to take on a major project to try and earn their Bronze Award, one of three available to Girl Scouts and the highest available to Scouts in their age group.

The Scouts updated the map — a time consuming, but rewarding experience that included more than two months of walking through the cemetery, noting veterans and carefully marking the locations on the maps.

The girls earned their Bronze Award — and marked the occasion at a ceremony at Gateway Park on Monday evening. The girls in Troop 2277 were joined by another Sanford troop, 158, which was marking some of their members “crossing the bridge” to another level.

“I got to learn who was a veteran,” said Girl Scout Phoebe Stevens of the mapping experience.

“We got to help the veterans,” said Girl Scout Gillian Utgard.

“I liked it,” said Girl Scout Meadow Jopling of the project.

In all, Scout Leader Julie Rose Utgard and St. Therese of Lisieux Parish Business Administrator Greg Semo estimated the girls had added 50 or more names of veterans to the map. As well, the girls identified five people buried in the cemetery who were veterans, but whose graves don’t bear a veteran marker.

To put that all in perspective, there are 1,477 people buried at Notre Dame Cemetery, said Semo. Cemetery files — now ready for updating because of the girls’ work on the map — had previously showed 188 veterans are buried there, said Semo. Adding another 50 was a big accomplishment.

“They did an amazing job,” said Semo.

“They are already making the world a better place,” said Stephanie Rochefort of the Bauneg Beg unit of Girl Scouts of Maine, of which Troop 2277 and Troop 158 are members. In all, the Bauneg Beg unit, which includes the Berwicks, Lebanon and Sanford has 211 girls and 81 adult members. Statewide, there are 7,964 girls and 4,128 adults registered as members, said Joanne Crepeau, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Maine.

“They do a great job,” said Jim Bachelder, quartermaster of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, of the Scouts efforts. “These girls understand why we respect everyone who is a veteran.”

The VFW is responsible for looking out for veterans’ graves at Notre Dame Cemetery — each of Sanford’s veterans clubs takes responsibility for one of the cemeteries in the city.

Rep. Anne-Marie Mastraccio, D-Sanford, said she intends to take a copy of the updated map to the Maine State Archives.

“Thank you for your hard work,” said Mastraccio, who was a Girl Scout.

“Thank you, on behalf of the city,” said Mayor Tom Cote. “This is a really big accomplishment.”

Before the ceremony, a Sanford resident stepped forward to speak to some of the girls and their leaders.

“I really appreciate it,” said Anita Bergeron, who said her family members are buried at Notre Dame, including some who are veterans. “I know they’ll really get that flag,” to commemorate their service on Memorial Day, because of the updated map, she said.

For more information on Girl Scouts, go to: www.girlscoutsofmaine.org.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.