By: Shannon Carley
Today the American Red Cross pays tribute to the courage and compassion of the first responders, volunteers and relief workers who answered the call 25 years ago in the face of unimaginable tragedy. The American Red Cross will never forget what happened on September 11, 2001.
For six decades, Camille McCormack has dedicated her time, talent and heart to the American Red Cross. In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, Camille deployed from O‘ahu, Hawai‘i to Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan as a Red Cross volunteer. She then spent two months working with people whose lives had been profoundly changed by the tragedy. Here, her role was to listen.
Camille spent her days meeting with people affected by the attacks, many of whom were facing uncertainty about their futures and their livelihoods. She sat with them, learned about the work they had done before 9/11, listened to how the attacks had impacted their careers and lives, and documented their stories. The information she gathered could then be used to help connect people with employment opportunities and other resources as they worked to rebuild.
Camille McCormack's Certificate of Appreciation for her work during the 9/11 response.
For Camille, the work was about more than collecting information. It was about sitting across from someone in a moment of uncertainty and making sure they knew someone was there to help.
Looking back 25 years later, Camille remains grateful that she was able to be there.
“That we were a part of all of that and put our feet on the ground was amazing,” she recalls.
Camille McCormack next to a military memorial.
Camille's understanding of service runs deep. Her family has generations of military and humanitarian service members, from ancestors who served alongside General Washington and General Sherman to family members who served in the Army and Navy during the World Wars.
The stories of her relatives helped shape her enduring commitment to community service. Over the years with the Red Cross, she has taught CPR classes, installed smoke alarms, supported service members and volunteered more than 1,000 hours a year. She also helped found the Hawai‘i Tiffany Circle in 2007 and has received numerous honors for her dedication to humanitarian service.
History is important to Camille and when she thinks of the Red Cross she is brought back to the organization’s roots.
“Red Cross was founded on the battlefield. Red Cross equips a human being to pull up their sleeves when people need help.”
Twenty-five years after 9/11, she believes remembering the stories of those who lived through it and those who answered the call is vital. She is grateful to share her own experience all these years later, not simply to look back, but to remind future generations what service looks like when people need help most.
Camille reminds us of “The need to pull up your sleeves and help. You always have to be prepared.”
For Camille, those words are more than a reflection on her time at Ground Zero. They are a philosophy she has carried for 60 years and a legacy she continues to live every day.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/hawaii or follow us on social media.
Support all the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross.
Your time and talent can make a real difference in people’s lives. Discover the role that's right for you and join us today!
