Page 5 - Explore Your AAA – AAA Southern Pennsylvania – Summer 2021

TO OUR MEMBERS
SUMMER 2021
A Century of Service
AAA School Safety Patrol Program continues to build on its legacy of safety and leadership
The belt color may have changed quite dramatically over the 100 years of the AAA School Safety Patrol Program – from white to neon orange to today’s fluorescent green called ‘Lectric Lime – but the mission remains the same: To provide a safer environment and leadership opportunities for millions of schoolchildren.
What began as a small, boys-only initiative in 1920, the program is proudly celebrating its centennial anniversary in 2021 – postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic – with 670,000 Patrollers in 35,000 schools, making
it the world’s largest safety program. Today, these brave young leaders dedicate their time before and after school each day, working with teachers, supervisors, adult crossing guards and law enforcement to ensure
the safety of their classmates.
The AAA model has been adopted in at least 30 other countries, including England, France, Germany, the Netherlands and New Zealand. The program has been praised by national and international safety and education groups for reducing deaths and injuries
among 5-to-14-year-olds, the age group most at risk for
pedestrian injury.
AAA provides an array of equipment and educational material to Patrollers, including the reflective ‘Lectric Lime fluorescent belts, patrol badges and training resources. The program also teaches lifelong lessons of good citizenship, leadership and responsibility, as evident in the fact that past Patrollers have grown up to be U.S. presidents or vice presidents, astronauts, governors, members of Congress, Supreme Court justices,
and Olympic medalists. Many Patrollers also now serve as educators, executives, physicians, and other community leaders throughout the nation.
AAA Southern Pennsylvania would like to thank all past and present AAA School Safety Patrol members who’ve stood at their posts and provided safer crossing walks and roadways for school-aged children on their way to and from school.
LEON A. BARBER III
CHAIRMAN & CEO
AAA SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
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