By Lori Baker
Communications Volunteer

When his vacation leave was denied, Sgt. Patrick Demers asked the American Red Cross Services to the Armed Forces for help.

He wanted to see his nearly 104-year-old grandmother, Luella Demers, one last time. She had fallen and due to her injuries was expected to pass within a few days. His vacation request was denied because his unit was being redeployed again. He was stationed at the Fort Huachuca Army base.

“We told him her death was imminent and he was really distressed as he knew he couldn’t get leave,’’ said Pat Demers, Patrick’s mother.

Patrick contacted Red Cross Hero Care Network volunteers on his base for assistance and he was granted emergency leave. Without the help of the Red Cross, he would not have been with his grandma as she passed.

Pat wrote a thank you note to the American Red Cross Services to the Armed Forces in appreciation for helping her family.

“Our combined families of Demers and Atwaters, wish to give our sincerest gratitude for all of the help that your volunteers provided,” she wrote.

“Our family has a long history of service to the Red Cross. My grandmother was a volunteer in WWI in France, and the grandmother who just passed was a long-time volunteer who got an award for her long years of services (I think over 50 years. Your organization does so much that is taken for granted,” Pat wrote, noting that her family gave a donation in honor of their mother.

The American Red Cross Hero Care Network provides emergency communications and critical services to military members, veterans and their families all over the world 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Red Cross maintains a presence on over 380 military installations and deployment centers.

In times of family emergency, the Red Cross provides real-time information and verified messages to service members and their military commands as well as connecting families to additional resources and financial assistance in times of hardship.

For more information about the Red Cross Services to the Armed Forces, go to redcross.org/saf.