100th Anniversary of the Red Cross Gray Ladies

By Divya Mathur, Volunteer

In times of war and distress, a Service Member longs for the comfort of home. Red Cross volunteers have aided these soldiers in need for 137 years, as did the Red Cross Hospital and Recreation Corps, who have served the community for a century.

Founded in 1918, the Red Cross Hospital and Recreation Corps consisted of mostly female volunteers who provided non-medical care to injured soldiers during the ravaging World War I. Whether the soldiers were physically or emotionally injured, the Recreation Corps supported our fighting troops.

During the Great Depression of the 1930’s, demand for these volunteers significantly increased, expanding the Corps’ reach to stretch across hospitals all over the country. To better serve those in need, volunteers not only assisted military members, but civilians as well. Schools started Junior Red Cross programs, giving our youth an opportunity to support American troops. Eventually, the Corps became the largest of the uniformed Red Cross volunteer services.

The number of volunteers peaked at almost 50,000 during World War II, with more people serving their community than ever. Their services included reading to patients, communicating with patients’ families through letters, teaching patients new skills, picking up supplies, and staffing the front desk of hospital recreation rooms. The volunteers also provided emotional support efforts to soldiers and civilians, while keeping morale high and proudly wearing their gray uniforms.

The color of their uniforms led soldiers to lovingly coin the name "Gray Ladies" to describe the volunteers. The Corps’ name was officially changed to the Gray Ladies service in 1947, after the end of World War II. Some members even volunteered in American hospitals overseas, spreading the Gray Ladies’ service to even more American troops.

After the mid-1960’s the Gray Ladies’ numbers dwindled. That led the Red Cross to restructure their programs, resulting in the standardization of the “Blue Vests”, so well-known not just to the U.S. Military and families but to all.

This year, 2018, marks the centennial anniversary of these effervescent and compassionate Gray Ladies. Their volunteer work serves as a foundation for the Red Cross mission and represents the positive impact that the Red Cross organization continues to have on the community.
 
References (MLA Format):
Morris, Joan. “Joan's World: Learning about Gray Ladies.” The Mercury News, The Mercury News, 24 Nov. 2010, www.mercurynews.com/2010/11/24/joans-world-learning-about-gray-ladies-rope-necklaces/.
“Ranae's Swedish-Chicago Heritage.” Mystery Photo of Great Aunt Ruth, swedishchicagoheritage.blogspot.com/2016/01/mystery-photo-of-great-aunt-ruth.html.
“Red Cross Retrospective - The Gray Lady Service.” American Red Cross, www.redcross.org/news/article/Red-Cross-Retrospective-The-Gray-Lady-Service.
“Red Cross Veteran Recalls Gray Lady Service.” American Red Cross, www.redcross.org/news/article/sc/columbia/Red-Cross-Veteran-Recalls-Gray-Lady-Service.
http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m12740145_Atlanta_History_1920-1939.pdf