Girl Scouts meet soldier pen pal

Captain Brenda Rivera, recently returned from Afghanistan, met up with Junior Girl Scout troop 50752 at the Sisters Library last week. The troop initiated a year-long correspondence with the Bronze Star holder who commands a unit of the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army.

Captain Rivera confidently strode into the room wearing her utility uniform and the trademark black Stetson with a quartermaster braid and crossed sabers that marks her being part of the cavalry.

More than 30 people were in attendance in the conference room just a few days after Christmas, where Captain Rivera finally got to meet the group of girls who have made Sisters even more special to her. Captain Rivera's sister, Katie Braman, calls Sisters home and hosted Captain Rivera on her Christmas leave, along with her husband, Captain Pedro Rivera and son, Alex.

The meeting was formal, opening with a flag ceremony and the Girl Scout pledge performed by members of the troop. Having corresponded between the two continents for so long the expectant girls were eager to meet this woman who let them know that the whole world is open to them.

"Captain Rivera has been amazingly generous with her writing and gifts to our troop," said co-troop leader, Peyton Griffin. Captain Rivera, along with her husband and son, were awarded medals from the Girl Scouts.

As a quartermaster in the Army, Captain Rivera provides material support to troops. This last deployment was her second one. During her first deployment, both Captain Riveras did not have any children. This time was different. Captain Pedro Rivera requested to leave the command that his wife was under so that they would be on different deployment schedules. He deploys in June, 2010.

After giving details and descriptions of the unit she's in and the Afghan region she was deployed to, she presented a slide show so the girls could get a visual. Afterwards the Girl Scouts began pounding her with questions:

Were other women there?

"Yes, there were some women there and each one did their job well and in accordance to the training they had received."

Was it hard being deployed?

"The hardest part of my deployment was being away from my family."

What is it like to be in another culture?

"The places I had command over consisted of three sites and several valleys. We used Blackhawk, Kiowa, Apache and Chinook helicopters. I mostly stayed on base or flew in the choppers so the only contact I had with the people of Afghanistan was when the merchants were allowed to come on base. I learned from them that the people get power to their homes by generator, have no furniture but use floor pillows instead. And, that there are no paved roads in that area of Afghanistan unless the U.S. military paves them."

Parents and children gathered around for pictures with their pen pal and refreshments were served. The world became a smaller place for the girls of Troop 50752