By Brianna Kelly, American Red Cross

American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) proudly serves those who serve. From providing home comforts and critical services on bases and in military hospitals around the world, to supporting military families during deployments and emergencies, to serving our nation’s veterans after their service ends, the Red Cross is there for military members and their families.

Across the United States, SAF team members provide vital information and services to military families to help them before and during deployments, and when service members return home, SAF is there to welcome them back as well.

Debra Cox, Southern California American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces Outreach Lead, recently attended the homecoming for Amphibious Group USS Makin Island, USS Anchorage and USS John P. Murtha as they returned home to San Diego from a seven-month deployment.

Debra attended the homecoming event to show Red Cross support for military families. She provided families with breakfast snacks as they arrived early in the morning, excitedly awaiting their loved one’s ships coming in. Debra also set up a Red Cross table full of materials for families to make welcome home signs, a popular activity for those in attendance.

For Debra, it was a day full of emotion and excitement. “Despite the early-morning start of 0600 on Naval Base San Diego, the excited energy was palpable throughout the morning with the separate arrivals of the ships,” says Debra. “Children and adults were thrilled to have the opportunity to decorate signs for their loved ones with supplies offered by American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces/International Services and other organizations. Some sleepy-eyed children would shyly approach the table and I would ask them, ‘Would you like a breakfast snack, and would you like to make a sign?’ Their smiles came readily as they began to work on their signs. Families would then gather around the tables and speak of their excitement and the special occasions their deployed military members have missed due to their service to our country. All spoke with pride and love.”

Although returning service members were excited to get home after so many months away, they still took the time to thank the Red Cross as they left the event. This show of gratitude was a special part of the day that stood out to Debra as one of the most memorable aspects of the homecoming event.

“Even though the long-deployed military members and their families were anxious to get home, most stopped by or waved and shouted, ‘Thank you!’ on their way out from the mooring homecoming. The gratitude of everyone all along the chain of command stood out to me and touched my heart,” says Debra. “Despite, or maybe because of their own sacrifices-being away from their families, missing special events, etc. - they have a greater appreciation for the sacrifices of others. That is both humbling and meaningful beyond words.”

Debra finds a deep sense of pride through her work with American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces. Supporting military families is personal to Debra, whose son is in the armed forces. “It seems paradoxically true that those of us who set out to serve others are often the ones getting so much in return,” says Debra. “I would say, ‘Serving others creates the most meaning.’ I am truly honored to be able to serve the military members and their family members who make such tremendous sacrifices to serve our country. As the mom of a son who serves, I often thank the entire family, stating, ‘We know that when one person serves, the entire family serves.’ The family members often emphatically shake their heads in agreement and walk away with a smile after thanking us in return. It simply does not get much better than that.”

To learn more about Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces, please visit redcross.org/military.