While accepting her award at the Eagle Oaks Country Club, Burry spoke about the three character traits in the Girl Scouts USA slogan that have been instrumental and guiding in her life: Confidence, Courage and Character.

“These are three things that start growing in the heart of every girl from the day she is born,” said Burry. “If she is lucky, she has them nurtured by parents and family and friends. But just like muscles, these qualities must be exercised regularly if they're to become strong and certain. Fortunately, life affords us regular chances.”

She explained to the 400 guests at the dinner that chances come in small everyday ways and always asking if someone wants to walk the more difficult road presenting more opportunities along with more uncertainties.

“Do we have enough confidence in ourselves to consider a more challenging option?,” asked Burry. “Do we have enough courage to make a decision based on merit, without fearing the disapproval of others if our choices fail to coincide with their desires? And is our character strong enough to make the right decision and stand by it?”

For Burry, the answers to these questions were built on a solid foundation of her family. First, by her “wonderful supportive parents” and then with Don, her husband of 50 plus years, and Lenore, their daughter.

“The one characteristic stressed by my father, a strong, patrician Italian who would say “Corragio, Bimba,”meaning “Courage, child!,” said Burry. “Then I met a man who had the self-confidence and courage to become my husband. And believe me, marriage is an act of courage.”

Burry’s remarks also discussed the importance of education: formal and informal. She also reminded attendees that going to college is a normal choice for girls now, but that was not always the case.

“It took an extra bit of confidence to choose to pursue an education and a professional career,” explained Burry. “When I was young, choosing marriage and motherhood was often seen as an alternative to a career and it was a common and often happy choice for many young women. I had confidence that it didn't have to be an either/or choice for me.”

Burry has been in the real esate business for more than 40 years. She became a licensed real estate broker and built her own business in Colts Neck when the field was dominated by men.

“I was convinced I'd be good at it and decided to make a place for myself in this highly competitive field and I'm still at it,” Burry said. “ I can tell you that confidence, courage, and character all get tested on a regular basis and it is that testing that can both frustrate us and keep us successful.”

Burry has served on the Matawan Borough Council, Colts Neck Township Committee and the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders. She was mayor of Colts Neck and the first woman director of the Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Of life in public office, she said, “You have to believe you have something meaningful to contribute before you decide to advance into public life. Then, once you make that decision, you have to use all your personal strengths to make it happen. The greater the responsibility, the greater the obligation to do it well. Looking back, that is what I have always tried to do. Looking forward,that is what I will always try to do.”

Before concluding, Burry drew attention to the world famous Girl Scout cookie box and it’s packaging that reads: Oh, What a girl can do! Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. You can make a difference!

She told the girls “Never forget it!”

For 30 years, the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore have honored outstanding women and organizations in Monmouth and Ocean counties at its Women of Distinction & Community Partners Gala.

This year’s Women of Distinction honorees were: Valeria Montecalvo, Bayshore Recycling; Maria Tanzola, UBS; Betty White, Civic Volunteer; Bertha Williams-Pullen, Neptune Township School District and Freeholder Burry. Junior Woman of Distinction was Kathy Ann Drake, Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore Girl Board Representative. Community Partner was The Faith & James Knight Foundation and Man Enough to be a Girl Scout Member of the Year was Jim DeAngelis, Lakewood BlueClaws.

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