Girls State’s driving force lives on in spirit

I was at my computer last night when I received an e-mail from my father. I reprint a portion of it here.

Sarah:

I’m sorry to be mailing you the obituary from Friday’s BDN. You certainly knew Shirley better than your Mom and Dad but the short meeting we had with her and watching her on the stage could only help us feel her enduring benevolence and love for her girls at Dirigo Girls State.

I first met Shirley Williams, the longtime director of this program, at Girls State in June 1996.

Girls State, which has run for more than 50 years, is a weeklong session dedicated to teaching about government, citizenship and community to women entering their senior year of high school.

During this week, approximately 500 or so girls are placed in towns (named, appropriately, Justice, Truth and Loyalty, etc.), a mock Maine state government is elected, and a lifelong commitment to service is fostered.

The week was no less than life-changing for me and my fellow representatives. We felt empowered to change the way our Dirigo government was run – and that we did by passing new laws, holding elections, debates and caucuses.

Shirley was the driving force behind our week. From her opening speech about democracy and citizenship to her constant monitoring of the whirlwind of activity, she made her presence known, respected and loved. She made an effort to talk to everyone, and was always willing to give hugs and a healthy dose of advice.

She acted in loco parentis for all of us. Her sharp eyes missed nothing, and she was quick to admonish (and forgive) those who were out of line. Her warmth, gentle soul and inspiring dedication to Girls State and the American Legion Auxiliary will not soon be forgotten.

A great woman of the world has departed us in body, but not in spirit. The legacy that Shirley Williams has left thousands of women in Maine, across the Unites States and indeed the world is tremendous – and this legacy is now being passed on to their sons and daughters. More women vote, participate in government and volunteer because of participating in Girls State.

The words to a song I learned at Girls State come back easily now – I will carry them with me (as other participants of Girls State will) for the rest of my life. Thank you, Shirley, for everything.

“Raise your voices, raise them high. Here’s to Girls State and here’s why: look to Girls State, And you’ll find, tomorrow’s leaders of Mankind.”

Sarah Parcak is a graduate of Bangor High School, class of 1997, was Girls State governor in 1996 and graduated from Yale University in 2001. She is currently working on her Ph.D. at Cambridge University.