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American Red Cross honors humanitarian workers serving overseas
Claire Milesi, Special to RCO
Wednesday, December 27, 2006 — The American Red Cross is wrapping up a year-long celebration of its founding by Clara Barton 125 years ago – commemorating more than a century of humanitarian service both within and beyond the borders of the United States. Like all national societies in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), the mission of the American Red Cross is focused on providing life-saving programs and services to local communities, and that mission often extends to helping neighbors around the world.
Across the street and around the world
Throughout its long history, American Red Cross staffers have expanded their reach beyond domestic disaster responses by serving overseas – side by side with other members of the Movement – in times of natural and human-caused disasters as well as international crises such as disease epidemics, famine and war.
Today, American Red Cross employees and volunteers are working in Africa and Asia with the Measles Initiative, an effort to vaccinate children against this deadly disease. They are serving the Tsunami Recovery Program, a program estimated to last five years, which is helping communities in countries such as Sri Lanka and Indonesia that were devastated by the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The American Red Cross often deploys technical or logistical experts to support other Movement operations, including disaster relief and recovery such as the recent typhoons that struck the Philippines and floods in the horn of Africa.
American Red Cross Chairman Bonnie McElveen-Hunter with other delegates from the organization during a recent visit to Chad and Ethiopia (pictured) to help raise awareness of the humanitarian toll the crises in this region have taken on local populations. McElveen-Hunter is shown how to use a hand pump that was built in partnership by the American Red Cross and the Ethiopian Red Cross Society while visiting Zeway, Ethiopia. (Photo Credit: Daniel Cima/American Red Cross)
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Most recently, during President George W. Bush’s Malaria Summit on Dec. 14, 2006, the organization shared news regarding efforts to fight the spread of malaria in Africa and its founding partnership in Malaria No More, an umbrella non-profit organization that is seeking to galvanize public support in the fight against malaria.
This news comes just a month after one of the organization’s lead volunteers, American Red Cross Chairman Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, took a delegation to Ethiopia and Chad to observe Red Cross projects in the region, which included assistance for refugees from Darfur. The main goal of the trip was to use the firsthand accounts of the delegates to raise awareness in the United States and to build support for the various American Red Cross and Movement responses in Africa. It also served to sharpen the focus on the humanitarian needs of the people affected by war, food insecurity and unsafe water supplies in the region.
In addition to supporting international response efforts, the American Red Cross also works abroad supporting members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families who are stationed overseas. American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES) mobile staff members facilitate emergency services to deployed military members and their families, including helping families stay connected across the miles as well as providing disaster and health and safety services. Today, Red Cross AFES teams are working in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait.
Outside the American Red Cross headquarters, this bronze and marble sculpture – titled "The Red Cross Spirit" – by Felix de Weldon (sculptor of the Iwo Jima Marine Memorial) is dedicated to all who have given their lives while serving with the Red Cross. ARCOA contributed to the Memorial and holds a commemorative service each fall to honor all who have served overseas.
(Photo Credit: MacDonald Photography for the American Red Cross)
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A history of helping
American Red Cross employees and volunteers have been serving overseas since 1892 when its founder Clara Barton sent the first American Red Cross field worker, Dr. Julian B. Hubbell, to supervise the relief operation for the Russian famine, the organization’s first foreign relief effort. Later in the 1890s, Barton recruited some 700 nurses to join other Red Cross field staff in Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Philippines during the Spanish-American War. This was the first time that the American Red Cross provided services to the U.S. military in combat, a service tradition that continues to this day.
The American Red Cross provided overseas relief workers during World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Gulf Wars, including serving in more than 25 countries during the First World War and 50 countries during the Second. Many Red Cross staff working overseas in times of war gave their lives in service. A total of 493 Red Cross employees and volunteers have died in service during wars in the 20th century – including 70 men and 330 women during World War I. Many more were injured.
In 1949, the organization formed the American Red Cross Overseas Association (ARCOA) to support staff overseas and to renew and continue friendships created while in service overseas. ARCOA also works for the mutual benefit of its members, engages in community service, provides services to members in need, makes training funds available to members as well as members' children and grandchildren and annually acknowledges an outstanding humanitarian. Through its services to members and support of the organization and the Movement, the ARCOA keeps alive the spirit that prompts so many to serve.
Honoring those who serve overseas
French Red Cross volunteer Michelle Picard (right) joins ARCOA President Anita L. Wright at a memorial ceremony held at its national headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 27, 2006, to honor American Red Cross workers who had or currently are serving overseas.
(Photo Credit: Claire Milesi/American Red Cross)
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During a solemn memorial ceremony at American Red Cross national headquarters in Washington, D.C., this fall, ARCOA honored American Red Cross employees and volunteers who have worked or now are working overseas. The ceremony was led by ARCOA President Anita L. Wright.
At this time of year, our thoughts often turn to those less fortunate than ourselves who have been affected by tragic circumstances, impacted by devastating disasters or are separated from loved ones. The American Red Cross, its programs, services and people continue to make a difference in the lives of people in your community, across the country and around the world. You can join the American Red Cross in making a difference – while honoring those who have served and continue to serve the humanitarian needs of others – by donating time, money or blood to support the organization.
To learn more about American Red Cross programs and services in the United States or abroad or for information about contributing to the Red Cross, visit RedCross.org or contact your local Red Cross chapter.
Claire Milesi is an American Red Cross intern. Leigh-Anne Dennison contributed to this story.
The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected. Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.
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