To celebrate Flag Day on June 14, American Red Cross Service to Armed Forces (SAF) will host an event at the Minnesota and Dakotas Red Cross headquarters, 1201 W. River Parkway, in Minneapolis from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The holiday commemorates the date in 1777 when the United States approved the design for its first national flag.
Featured guest speaker will be Dave Sanderson, an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and one of the last passengers off the plane that crashed in the Hudson River, better known as “The Miracle on the Hudson,” considered the most successful ditching in aviation history.
The Roseville VFW Honor Guard will present the colors at 11 a.m., followed by brief appearances by Jeff Kazel, Regional Director, Red Cross Service to Armed Forces, and Kim Brunner, who will discuss the history of Flag Day. After a hamburger and hot dog social at 11:30 a.m., talks will be given by Sanderson, along with demonstrations and discussions on hands-only CPR, Resiliency, and International Humanitarian Law and Refugees.
The American Red Cross legacy of service to the members of the military began with Clara Barton providing comfort on the battlefields of the Civil War. Since then, American Red Cross staff have served in every major military combat or conflict operation around the world. They are among a select group who have proudly worn the Red Cross emblem to provide care and comfort to the members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
The American Red Cross commitment to the military community never wavers. The SAF workforce operates 24/7/365 to help service members, veterans and their families prepare for, cope with and respond to the challenges of military service.
Service to Armed Forces, together with the Hero Care Network, provides military families with emergency communications, connects them to financial assistance resources, and offers mental health support and information services to military members, veterans and their families.
Last year, the Minnesota and Dakotas regional SAF team provided more than 6,000 services to military members, their families and veterans, and also reached over 2,800 service members through ‘Get To Know Us’ briefings for how to access Red Cross communications support during family emergencies.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Minnesota and Dakotas Red Cross region is comprised of nine community chapters and five Blood Donation Centers, the Minnesota and Dakotas Region serves more than 7.3 million people. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission.