Mimi Teller/American Red Cross

As a retired U.S. Air Force nurse and a legacy donor to the American Red Cross, Emily Reed represents two enduring forms of service: answering the call of duty to her nation and ensuring that care for her community continues long after her own service has ended.

Reed began her military career in June 1965, commissioning as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps. Stationed at Travis Air Force Base in California, she served from 1965 to 1968, providing care to fellow service members during a time of profound social change and global uncertainty. Born in West Point, Georgia, and raised in an impoverished, segregated South, Reed was the youngest of five children in a family that viewed education and military service as a pathway to opportunity. Two of her brothers served in the Army, and another served in the Navy.

It was during her Air Force service that Reed experienced the Red Cross mission she had previously known only from television.

Just six months after arriving at Travis, Reed learned that her father had died unexpectedly. With no telephone at home and limited resources, her family had no way to contact her, and she had no means to afford travel home. Somehow, the Red Cross was notified. Reed was told by her head nurse that the organization had arranged and paid for her flight home so she could attend her father’s funeral. Her plane departed on Christmas Day in 1965.

“I was amazed,” Reed recalls. “Other than the name, I knew very little about the Red Cross at the time. That act of kindness stayed with me.”

Although no one else in her family has received Red Cross assistance or volunteered with the organization, Reed carried that moment with her throughout her life. She often shared the story with others, especially fellow service members, as a reminder of compassion in action.

After retiring from the military and making Hawaiʻi her home in 2002, Reed witnessed firsthand how frequently communities across the Pacific Islands Region face emergencies and disasters. From the Lahaina wildfire to powerful Kona Low storms, she saw the Red Cross continue to serve military families, veterans and civilians alike, showing up again and again when people needed help most.

That ongoing presence reinforced her desire to give back. Reed has supported the Red Cross financially for more than a decade. In recent years, she deepened that commitment by transitioning to monthly giving, ensuring steady support for Red Cross services year-round.

A longtime contributor, Reed has also chosen to honor both her military service and her lifelong gratitude by including a gift to the Red Cross of Hawaiʻi in her estate plans — continuing a commitment she has held for some time. As a legacy donor, she is helping ensure that the values of care, service and compassion that shaped her life will continue beyond her lifetime, providing comfort and hope to future generations.

We are deeply grateful and honored to recognize Emily Reed as a veteran, a loyal supporter and a member of the American Red Cross Legacy.

As we recognize Military Appreciation Month, Reed’s story is a powerful reminder that service does not end with retirement, and that a single act of compassion can inspire a lifetime of giving back.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, 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 or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.