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The American Red Cross, Southern Tier Chapter Honors Veterans and Military Families on Veterans Day
This Veteran's Day, the American Red Cross salutes all veterans who throughout our nation's history have so valiantly and selflessly served our country. The Red Cross has a historic and unique role in supporting veterans and their family members as well as members of the United States Armed Forces, members of the National Guard and Reserves. In fact, the American Red Cross, Southern Tier Chapter has been serving military families since its inception 100 years ago.
Did you know in 1917, just before the United States entered into World War I, that Southern Tier Chapter volunteers, after hearing about suffering in France, began making bandages and hospital garments for French soldiers? They made over 1 million articles! They continued making surgical dressings for the war relief, then began meeting troop trains and serving coffee, sandwiches, providing magazines, newspapers, candy, playing cards and other items to US troops. According to records, they never missed a train.
Today, the Chapter continues the Red Cross' commitment to military families. In addition to providing support to veterans, Red Cross workers ensure essential communication links for all military families during times of crisis. Working in this Chapter and 700 other chapters, 58 military installations, two state-of-the-art communication centers and at military installations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait, active duty military can count on the Red Cross to provide emergency communications which link the service member and their family members back home in times of an emergency.
The Red Cross has aided hundreds of thousands of military members and families throughout the years and the Southern Tier Chapter remains steadfastly committed to supporting the dedicated men and women in our community who serve our nation.
In addition to handling emergency communication messages for families, the Red Cross also provides access to financial assistance through the military aid societies, confidential counseling services and valuable referrals.