Viewpoint: Service to Armed Forces at heart of the Red Cross mission
The mission of the American Red Cross has its origins on the battlefield, thanks to the compassionate dedication of our founder, Clara Barton, who cared deeply for the well-being of Civil War soldiers. Over the years, her legacy has continued, with Red Crossers providing essential support in major military conflicts worldwide, serving as ambulance drivers, nurses, field directors, canteen workers, hospital staff, recreation workers and station managers.
More than 140 years since the Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross, our commitment to honoring, supporting and caring for those who have made significant sacrifices for our freedom remains steadfast. We are entrusted by the federal government with providing services to members of our armed forces and their families, as well as offering disaster relief both nationally and internationally. Every year, our dedicated staff and volunteers selflessly deploy to military bases overseas, providing invaluable in-person support to our troops.
Additionally, our Service to the Armed Forces staff and volunteers assist over 240,000 military and veteran families, both at home and across the globe. Since January, Red Cross volunteers and staff have supported more than 2,600 military and veteran families in the Indiana region. This includes offering emergency communications, helping military families stay connected with their loved ones and facilitating their return home through our Hero Care Network. Through this program, the Red Cross also provides free and confidential assistance around the clock, including financial support and essential community services to service members, veterans, and their families. The Hero Care Network is available 24 hours a day/seven days a week.
Through our "Get To Know Us Before You Need Us" program, we meet with enlistees and their families to share how our services can provide assistance before, during and after deployment. Moreover, our devoted volunteers and staff offer a variety of free resiliency workshops, both in person and online, to equip military personnel, veterans and their families with effective tools to cope with challenges and stress.
As a woman who has every branch of the military represented in her family and now as a Red Crosser, I have come full circle and consider it a privilege to serve and stand shoulder to shoulder with many of our veterans who continue their legacy of service, albeit in a different uniform, the Red Cross vest. These veterans, numbering 20,000 strong, including 174 who volunteer in our region, serve as nurses, emergency management experts, preparedness experts, and more at local Red Cross chapters across the nation. These veterans are genuine humanitarians, and their impact is integral to our mission. I have the honor of witnessing the unbreakable bond that exists among veterans, service members and their families as these volunteers continue to care for their fellow veterans, members of our armed forces and their loved ones.
As we commemorate Veterans Day, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to our U.S. military veterans who have chosen to continue their service to their communities after active duty, wearing the Red Cross vest. I feel deeply honored and privileged to serve you and serve alongside you. Today, I reaffirm our commitment to support and stand with our veterans, military service members and their families every step of the way. I invite you to visit www.redcross.org/saf to discover more about the programs available through our service to the Armed Forces, and also learn how you can support our military, veterans and their families.
Terry Stigdon is regional CEO of the American Red Cross–Indiana Region.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: American Red Cross origins on the battlefield, that legacy continues.
