The Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. have posthumously given Amerie Jo Garza, one of the victims of the Uvalde school shooting, an award for bravery.
Garza was in her fourth grade classroom when she was killed by a gunman, but she never stopped trying to save her classmates and teachers, and for that, she's been awarded "one of the highest honors" the Girl Scouts can bestow.
Even for a country that's become used to school shootings, the massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas stood out. It was the deadliest school shooting since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012.
As People reported, Garza was gunned down in the middle of making a 911 call on her cellphone, pleading with authorities for help. Her family says she called police once the gunman entered her classroom.
According to her family, Amerie's favorite things included playing with Play-Doh and taking part in activities with her fellow Girl Scouts. In fact, she'd just recently completed her bridging ceremony, advancing to the next Girl Scout level.
The organization met with the Garza family to give them a Bronze Cross award, generally regarded as one of the highest honors in Scouting. It's only awarded to those who risk or give their own life in an attempt to save others.
She was honored once more at her funeral service.
"[Amerie] will be counted among an exceptional group of young women who have distinguished themselves as brave and courageous heroes," Girl Scouts CEO Sofia Chang wrote in a letter to the Garza family.
Maite Yuleana Rodriguez, who was also killed in the attack, was commemorated with a scholarship from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Rodriguez had always wanted to become a marine biologist, so the scholarship is aimed at those who are studying marine biology.
The courage shown by the young victims of the tragedy — bravely calling for help that never came as a gunman rampaged through their classrooms — is a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit.
The Uvalde school shooting has led to debates on gun control and policing, but at the heart of it is the innocent children who died. Amerie may be gone, but her bravery won't be soon forgotten.
We aren't even halfway through 2022, and already there have been 27 school shootings that have taken place in the United States this year alone.
Let us know what you think of this difficult subject, and share your thoughts on Amerie's bravery, in the comments section.
h/t: My San Antonio
