By Josh Davis, Red Cross volunteer

When retired U.S. Army Col. Dr. Alicia Christy presented Janice Chance with a painted portrait of her son, Cap. Jesse Melton III, USMC, the moment was more than an exchange of art. It was an exchange of service, sacrifice and shared purpose.

“When I was presented with the beautiful portrait of my son … my heart was deeply touched,” Chance said. “My heart overflowed and continues to flow with joy and thanksgiving.”

For Chance, the portrait is deeply personal. Her son was killed in Afghanistan on Sept. 9, 2008, while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. He volunteered to take the place of a fellow Marine whose family was expecting a child.

“Jesse was an obedient, compassionate, selfless, and loving son who cared very deeply for his family,” she said. “He told me ‘I want the Marines to follow me out of admiration, not obligation … I want to go change the world and make a difference that will bring God glory’."

Turning pain into service

Immediately after her son’s death, Chance encountered the American Red Cross in a life-changing way. A Red Cross worker visited her home, offering steady support during the family’s darkest hours.

“I made a decision to become an American Red Cross volunteer because of the many acts of kindness and their unwavering support,” Chance said. “It provided an opportunity for me to pay it forward by serving and supporting some of our country’s heroes and their families.”

She strives to live out the word of God, she says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive."

While Chance is a retired registered nurse, she chose not to volunteer in a clinical role. She began volunteering in 2010 and continues to serve at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where more than 500 Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces volunteers support patients, staff and military families.

“To borrow a phrase from the military, I wanted to be ‘boots on the ground,’” she said.

For her, the Red Cross is “my safe harbor.”

“Whenever I enter the Red Cross office, I feel a sense of love and peace.”

Honoring the fallen

For Christy, portraiture is another form of service.

“I have had the privilege of caring for active-duty service members, veterans and their families for more than 40 years,” she said. “In addition to providing them with care, I use my artwork to honor them.”

Through her “Faces of the Fallen” series, she paints fallen service members to ensure their stories are remembered. After meeting Gold Star families who feared their loved ones would be forgotten, she began offering those portraits as gifts.

“I have never, and will never, request compensation for these portraits,” she said.

Her military and medical careers shaped her path to volunteering.

“There is a bible quote ‘To whom much is given, much is expected’ Because I did not have to make many of the sacrifices many of my veteran colleagues had to make, I bear a higher responsibility to give back,” she said.

Today, volunteering is central to her purpose.

“When I retired, I decided to devote the rest of my life to healthcare advocacy, primarily for active-duty service members, veterans and their families,” she said.

A shared mission

Though their paths are different, both women now stand side by side as Red Cross volunteers at Walter Reed – one honoring heroes with a paintbrush, the other offering comfort and presence to families walking difficult roads.

Whenever Chance looks at her son’s portrait, she is reminded that “my son’s selfless service and ultimate sacrifice have not been forgotten.”

Their stories are a powerful reminder that service does not end with a uniform. At Walter Reed and in communities across the country, Red Cross volunteers continue to show up – and be ready when time comes.

For those looking for a way to give back, consider joining the Red Cross volunteer family. Your time, compassion and skills can help ensure that no service member or military family faces hardship alone.

To learn more, visit redcross.org/volunteer.