When Gold Award Girl Scout McKayla Floyd heard that there was a local Revolutionary War soldier buried in the Esslinger Cemetery that was overrun with thickets, briers, and brush, she knew this was her Go Gold project.

“Many graves do not receive their proper respect,” said McKayla. “More history is being lost to time every day without a community dedicated to preserving it.”
McKayla decided to use this as her Gold Award project and in the process, she brought her community together in an effort to clean up the graveyard and honor William M. Robertson, who fought for American independence more than 200 years ago.

With the help of many local groups such as the Daughters of the Revolution, the Sons of the Revolution, Dig-It Landscaping, her family, friends, Girl Scout troop, and many others, McKayla and her team were able to restore the graveyard.

Along the way, she not only preserved an important piece of American history and grew closer to her community, but she learned a few things about herself.

“I have discovered a stronger sense of self during this project,” said McKayla. “My leadership skills have already grown a lot since I began the project. I never saw myself as a young adult, only a kid. However, being in charge of other people and having adults…ask me what they should do changed my perspective of myself. I am still very young with a lot to learn, but I now realize that I am in fact a young adult and command the same respect as everyone else.”

This G.I.R.L (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)TM has more than proven she deserves the same respect.

In addition to earning her Gold Award, McKayla was also a graduating valedictorian and chosen as a 2017 honoree by the East Tennessee Preservation Alliance for her work in restoring the cemetery.

Since graduating, McKayla has joined the United States Navy, where she entered two ranks higher as an E-3 Seaman instead of an E-1 Seaman Recruit because she first earned her Gold Award. McKayla has since advanced to E-4 Petty Officer Third Class as a machinist mate and is working toward becoming a nuclear operator.