RUMFORD – Writing letters and sending presents to some of the soldiers serving in Iraq made Girl Scout Leah Perry feel she was helping out the best she could.

“I learned they are fighting for us,” said Perry of the 184 men and women serving in Company A, 121st Battalion in Iraq. Eighty of them are from Maine.

She and the other eight members of Girl Scout Troop 1520 were honored Monday afternoon when U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, presented them with several awards for undertaking a nearly year-long project of sending letters and gifts to the soldiers.

Tops was the Kennebec Girl Scout Council Bronze Award, the highest a Girl Scout troop can earn.

“You have done something wonderful, something that upholds the values of Girl Scouts,” said Collins, a former Girl Scout. “I have visited the troops and have seen how much projects like yours mean to them.”

But it isn’t only the gifts, Collins added.

“It’s the thoughtfulness. This is a project you will always remember,” she said. “I am so proud of you.”

Collins presented the Girl Scout troop with flags from the 121st Battalion that had been flown in Iraq.

“This is a project that you will always remember. Girl Scouting has changed in 95 years, but what has remained constant is building character, service and caring,” she said.

Each of the girls was also presented with a bouquet, and many had their pictures taken with Collins.

The project, known as Troop to Troops, began in September. Since then, the Girl Scouts have made sure each of the 184 men serving in the company received gifts at Christmas and at other times. In fact, said leader Janet Hall, they were able to send out more than 200 gift packages, thanks to the support of businesses and organizations who contributed to the project.

Now the troop is preparing Easter goodies to be shipped to the soldiers, including, of course, Girl Scout cookies.

The 121st Battalion is slated to return to the United States in July. The Girl Scout troop is planning to meet with then, Hall said.

Each of the girls told what it meant to them to take part in the project, and what they learned.

For many, they learned that the soldiers serving in a country most can’t locate on a map are just normal people, that they do without things that most take for granted, and that they are just like everyone else.

“I liked doing something for them,” said Brooke Young.

Other girls involved in the project are Shannon Laubauskas, Kelsie Blanchard, Kristin Arsenault, Ellie Hall, Abbey Pinkham and Taylor Smart.