Service to the Armed Forces: Helping Military Members, Veterans, and their Families

Written by: Stephanie Babyak, Communications Volunteer

SAF Regional Specialist, Tommy Bolin  

Senior SAF Regional Specialist Tommy Bolin spends his work day helping military members, veterans, and their families. One vet struggles with PTSD, a wife needs to reach her husband posted overseas to let him know of a death in the family, another needs housing. However, in late Fall 2020, a most unique case landed on his desk, a mystery involving a World War II Navy war hero and an all-out effort to reunite his family with his personal effects. 

Two years ago, Chris Reilly’s daughter, an officer in the U.S. Army, completed a tour of duty at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State and moved home to her parents while she attended graduate school. The moving van shipping her belongings and those of other soldiers traveled the country from the West Coast to the final destination of the Reilly home in Delaware, making stops along the way. At the Reilly's, everything remaining in the truck was unloaded. 

As Chris and his daughter culled through the piles of boxes, they uncovered a large, leather briefcase that neither of them recognized. Inside the unlocked briefcase were letters the Navy vet had written to his finance, along with his passport, driver's license, and military medals and citations, including a Silver Star Medal, the U.S. Armed Forces decoration for valor in combat.

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“If you read those letters, you’re reliving history and understanding what it was like to be in World War II because, as you know, most of the World War II vets are no longer with us.”

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Army veteran Chris Reilly 

Determined to return the Navy hero’s personal effects to his family, Chris contacted agency after agency – the moving company, insurance company, Navy Personnel Command, Veterans of Foreign War, the Veterans Administration – all with no luck. Because Chris was not family and lacked legal authorization, privacy laws prevented the agencies from sharing information. Then someone suggested Chris contact the American Red Cross.

“I called the 1-800 RED CROSS number, they assigned me a case number, and said someone would contact me," said Chris. 

The briefcase contained the Navy hero's personal effects,
including a Silver Star medal and letters to his fiancé.

Based in Wilmington, Tommy Bolin was first assigned the case. Then, the San Diego Red Cross office also got involved as the WWII vet, who died in 1993, was from San Diego. Working with the Red Cross and a genealogist, Chris finally connected with the Navy veteran’s nephew who accepted the briefcase, letters, and medals.

This story is an example of the many ways the American Red Cross helps military members, veterans and their families prepare for, cope with, and respond to, the challenges of military service. 

Since 9/11, the Red Cross has served more than 1 million military families. Service to the Armed Forces volunteers provide home comforts and critical services on bases and in military hospitals around the world. We support military families during deployments and emergencies and we continue serving our nation’s veterans after their service ends. 

NC&GCR Red Crossers distributed stockings from Operation Quiet
Comfort and the Red Cross at a holiday event at Walter Reed
National Military Medical Center.

The Service to the Armed Forces program in the National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region (NC&GCR) supports military personnel, veterans, and families on 27 separate military installations in the region, at five Veteran’s Administration Hospitals, and throughout the community. Key installations supported include: Fort Meade, Quantico Marine Corps Base, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Fort Belvoir, Joint Base Andrews, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, the US Naval Academy, and the Pentagon. 

There is a team of over 1,000 active volunteers supporting the SAF mission throughout the region. 

Volunteers range from civilian to active duty, from administrative through PhD, RN and MD who practice to the full extent of their credentials. During the summer months, we add a robust program of youth volunteers with our VolunTeen programs. 

Here are some of the key ways the American Red Cross helps military and their families: 

• 

  Last fall, volunteers delivered Girl Scout
  cookies, stress balls comfort kits, and
  e-cards  to raise morale and support our
  military partner and veteran communities.

  Financial Assistance: The Red Cross partners with the military aid societies to help service members and their families get emergency financial assistance 24/7. 
• Information and Referral Services: The Red Cross provides counseling, guidance, information, referrals and other social services for all military personnel and their families. 
• Deployment Services: Before, during, and after deployments, the Red Cross provides training information, and support for military members and their families. 
• Resiliency/Reconnection Workshops: The American Red Cross has developed the Reconnection Workshops for all military families to assist them with managing the challenges of reintegration, and to
  help them build resiliency skills that make it easier to rebound from setbacks and difficulties. Click here to learn more.
• Holidays for Heroes: Holidays for Heroes offers individuals, corporations and community entities (church/temple groups, schools, community centers, etc.) the opportunity to support the unique work that the American Red Cross in the National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region is doing for the local military and veteran community. Click here to learn more.

The American Red Cross has also launched a new online, self-service tool called the Hero Care Network. This free tool gives military families more flexibility and expanded access to help during times of crisis by allowing them to quickly communicate emergency messages 24/7 via computer, tablet, or even by smartphone. 

To download the free Hero Care App to get access vital emergency and non-emergency resources for military members, veterans and military families.  Or text: "GETHEROCARE" to 90999 

 

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You can join us too!

• To learn more about the Service to the Armed Forces programs, click here. 
• Make a difference in your community. Click here to become a Red Cross volunteer. 
• Click here to learn more about donating blood with the American Red Cross near you. 

Red Cross Holds Virtual Resiliency Workshops for Military Members and Families

 By Laura Cantagallo, American Red Cross Volunteer

A substantial part of the Red Cross mission is its service to the armed forces and all who affiliate with them, such as spouses, families, and loved ones. It can be difficult when a family member is deployed overseas, leaving his or her significant others back at home fighting their own battles. 

As a way to support these military families and affiliated members, the Red Cross is holding virtual resiliency and stress management workshops via Zoom. I sat it on the one from Friday, July 24, which was led by Dr. Carol Deel, a licensed mental health provider with her own full-time private practice in Maryland, and Lynn Hottle, a Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) reconnection facilitator and part of the regional Disaster Mental Health team. 

“We are very serious about our commitment to serving the armed forces; this is how Clara Barton started it,” said Hottle. 

Hottle and Deel met with a small group of military members over Zoom to discuss their personal experiences with stress and anxiety and how they cope, converse about how stress can impact us, and, throughout the second half of the workshop, give participants techniques to help dissolve stress at its root. 

"We just really want to share with you all some tools and information for some of the things going on in today’s world,” said Hottle.

The facilitators began with an open discussion about stress and how it reaches each individual on a personal and unique level. Hottle and Deel educated participants on how stress can impact us on many levels. 

This includes:

• Bodily – heavy breathing, increased heart rate, stomach pain
• Behaviorally – argumentative, increased/decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping
• Emotionally – anger, sadness, mood swings

Later on, participants were given a list of ways to cope, reduce, and manage the stressors they experience, like cooking, organizing, reading a book, listening to music, and much more – the list of stress-reducers went on in abundance.

Deel and Hottle later switched the focus over to relaxation and stress-reducing techniques. The first was deep breathing: force out as much air as possible and then breathe back in deeply. 

“Breathe at a rate that’s comfortable for you,” said Deel as she walked participants through the technique.

Another similar breathing exercise was a hand tracing technique that synchronized tracing the outline of your hand as you breathe in and out.

A third method for reducing stress included using senses to help bring about calmness. This means observing things around you using the five senses – this can help individuals stay grounded and notice their surroundings when trying to fall asleep or self-soothe. Throughout these exercises and tips, Deel and Hottle invited participants to discuss how the exercises changed their stress levels.

As the workshop came to a close, the meeting leaders continued to talk about stress, how it impacts us, and how we can cope with it in positive and healthy ways, as well as helpful sleeping tips to ensure a good night’s rest. This workshop is especially crucial due to the uncertainty and anxiousness that can be brought about with the effects of COVID-19. Facilitators ended the meeting with a self-reflection from each individual, and also a “power of gratitude” activity: participants were asked to share three good things they experienced that day and one thing each of them were looking forward to for the following day. 

Now, more than ever, we must show compassion and understanding to those we care about. None of us sincerely know what the future holds, but with help and support offered by the Red Cross, we can make try to bring some sense of normalcy during these challenging times.

“There are so many things that we cannot do or are restricted to, and lots of losses in our lives,” Hottle adds, “Try to reframe the negative things that are happening in our lives and put a positive spin on it.” 

If you or a loved one is suffering and needs assistance, you can call the crisis hotline at 1-800-273-8255, which is available 24 hours a day, in both English and Spanish languages.

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To learn more and sign up for the SAF Virtual COVID Stress-Management Workshops, click here: https://www.redcross.org/local/dc-va-md-de/about-us/our-work/virtual-covid-stress-management-workshops.html (More dates to be added soon!)

To learn more about Disaster Mental Health volunteer opportunities, visit https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities/disaster-health-mental-health-volunteer.html

United through Reading

By Tanesha Hayes, Volunteer

The saying, “It’s the little things that matter” holds a great deal of weight for those who serve in the Armed Forces. Little things like saying goodnight, seeing facial expressions from the person you adore, and even story time are to be cherished, yet they are hard-to-have moments for soldiers and their families while physically separated. When service members are deployed or on TDY (temporary duty yonder), they want to continue sharing bonding experiences with the special children in their lives.

For service members looking to keep reading time a consistent thing no matter where they are, United Through Reading provides them with that experience. It’s literally, ‘storytime on demand’ for children. United Through Reading (UTR) understands the importance of the‘little things’ and that sharing a special moment, like reading together, can bridge even the furthest distance between families and service members.

In addition to service members being able to read with their family as much as they’d like, they are promoting their child’s love for reading, while reassuring their child’s emotional connection and easing the stress and anxiety that comes with separation.

The process is easy! 
A service member can simply contact their nearest UTR program manager and schedule a meeting time to record a personal reading - any book of choice - for a special child in their life. This is such a unique and thoughtful program because it also allows service members to personalize their recordings through their mobile UTR app. This means a service member can record from the comfort of any location and make magic happen. You could call it storytime on-demand!

The program uses recorded video so children can watch and read along with their special service member as many times as they’d like. This service is open to all members of the armed forces. UTR is 100% donation-based, so there are plenty of book options provided through the program; including bi-lingual books.

Oh! Did we forget to mention it’s free of cost?

Whether a service member is reading to a military spouse, child, or pet, anyone who receives a video can benefit in a positive way. With a UTR video service, members can be there for bedtime every night, on a birthday, the first day of school, or anytime their children need them. When calling home isn’t an option, United Through Reading is.

If you’re interested in learning more about the program visit https://unitedthroughreading.org/

Sources 
1- https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/working_papers/2008/RAND_WR566.pdf
2- https://unitedthroughreading.org/

Home of the Free, Because of the Brave

By Hailie Duenkel, Volunteer 

Photo by: Military.com

May is National Military Appreciation Month – where we pay special tribute to the men and women of the Armed Forces, educate society on the role the military plays in the community, and showcase top of the line equipment and abilities used to protect the United States.

Photo by: afd.defense.gov

This year’s theme is “For the Nation. For the People” and the American Red Cross takes an active role every day to support the people of the military. The Red Cross began aiding America’s military during the Spanish-American War when Red Cross President Clara Barton employed nurses across the country to help the Army at medical camps in Florida and Cuba. Still serving 24 hours a day, the Red Cross continues to support our military during times of crisis. From American backyards to military organizations around the world, here are some services the Red Cross provides for our military families:

Veteran Services – Red Cross services for veterans date back to World War I and are still exceedingly active today. We offer referrals to community resources and programs, assist veterans with claims for benefits, and lead an active volunteer program in veteran’s administration and military hospitals providing vital assistance in the areas of rehabilitation, recreation, administration, and personal services.

Emergency Communications – If military personnel need emergency communication with their family or vice-versa, the Red Cross will independently verify the emergency and enable the service member’s commander to make an educated decision regarding emergency leave. The Red Cross will then provide transportation assistance and/or financial assistance if needed.

Financial Assistance – The Red Cross works in partnership with military aid societies to provide financial assistance in the form of emergency travel, the burial of a loved one, and emergency food and shelter, etc. These services provide for those eligible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Deployment Services – Developed workshops and information and support services designed to assist military members and their families cope with the constant challenges of the deployment cycle, are just a few of the amenities the Red Cross provides.

Information Referral – The Red Cross assists military families to identify their needs and connects them to the most appropriate Red Cross and community resources. These requests include emergency needs for food, clothing, and shelter, referrals to counseling services (e.g., financial, legal, mental health), and respite care for caregivers.

The Red Cross has served more than 1 million military families since 9/11 and continues every day to provide 24/7 global emergency services. If you would like to volunteer to assist with these programs that benefit our military families, click here to start your patriotic journey today.

Happy Armed Forces Day! 🎖️

By Carly Flumer, Volunteer

The Red Cross salutes our men and women of the Armed Forces today and every day, and especially on May 18th – Armed Forces Day. Many nations around the world observe some kind of Armed Forces Day to honor their military forces. It is celebrated in the United States as a day to appreciate all active duty service members. 

Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in May. This year, it is celebrated on Saturday, May 18. Thanks to President Harry S. Truman, it’s a day to pay special tribute to the men and women of the Armed Forces. President Truman led the effort to establish a holiday in order for citizens to unite and to honor our military heroes for their patriotic service in support of the United States. It also happens to coincide with this month being recognized as Military Appreciation Month.

The Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) program dates back to the establishment of the American Red Cross by Clara Barton in May 1881. Not only did the “Angel of the Battlefield” risk her life tending to soldiers wounded in the Civil War, she bolstered their morale by writing letters for them to send to their families. Today’s American Red Cross workers proudly carry on this tradition through the SAF program, which serves as a critical line of communication between the U.S Armed Forces and their families.

Since 9/11/2001, the Red Cross has provided services to more than 1 million soldiers and their families through deployments and emergencies, including critical cases on military bases throughout the world.

The SAF program in the National Capital Region supports military personnel, veterans, and families on 14 separate military installations in the Washington, DC region, at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital, and throughout the community. Key installations supported include: Quantico MCB, Walter Reed NMMC, Fort Belvoir, JB Andrews, JB Myer-Henderson Hall, JB Anacostia-Bolling, and the Pentagon.

As the largest Red Cross volunteer area in the National Capital Region, there is a team of nearly 1,000 active volunteers supporting the SAF mission throughout the region. Volunteers range from civilian to active duty, from administrative up to PhD and MD who practice to the full extent of their credentials and support activities across the region to include greeting every wounded, ill and injured service member who arrives via MEDEVAC.

Here are some of the services we provide:

DEPLOYMENT:

• The Red Cross understands how hard it is for families to let go of a loved one for an extended period of time, whether it be for the first time or the 10th time. 
• We provide a course called “Coping with Deployments: Psychological First Aid for Military Families” that provides information for parents, siblings, spouses, and children on how to respond to psychological and emotional challenges faced while going through deployment. A family can take this class either in person or online. 
• Call your local Red Cross to find out more information on registering or visit: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/military-families/deployment-services.html  

POST-DEPLOYMENT

• While returning home can be a very exciting time for both the soldier and their family, it can also be stressful as they learn to reconnect with one another, as roles and responsibilities may have been shifted and emotions are still very raw. 
• The Red Cross offers free, small-group Reconnection Workshops for all family members, including teens and young children, that focus on identifying stress, trauma, and depression, as well as coping mechanisms as family members looking to reconnect. 
• To sign up for a workshop, visit https://www.redcross.org/get-help/military-families/deployment-services/register-reconnection-workshops.html

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

• The Red Cross offers financial assistance around the clock, 24 hours day, 365 days a year to active duty service members and members of an activated National Guard or reserve unit (as well as their immediate family members), and to military retirees and/or their spouses.
• Assistance can include funds for burial services and emergency travel, shelter, and food
• Call the Red Cross Hero Center at 1.877.272.7337 or submit a request online at https://www.redcross.org/get-help/military-families/financial-assistance.html 

HERO CARE NETWORK

• Through the Hero Care Network, you can submit emergency communications requests online or via mobile device 24/7
• When a military family experiences a crisis, the Red Cross is there to help. More than 110,000 military families reach out to the American Red Cross for emergency assistance each year. That’s approximately 300 military families per day. That’s why the American Red Cross launched our new online, self-service tool called the Hero Care Network. 
• This FREE tool gives military families more flexibility and expanded access to help during times of crisis by allowing them to quickly communicate emergency messages 24/7 via computer, tablet, or even by smartphone.
• Visit www.redcross.org/HeroCareNetwork for more information or to submit a request.

For more information on our Service to the Armed Forces program, click here!

And thank you to all the men and women who serve, and have served, our country! 🎖️

National Military Appreciation Month: Deployment Services

Written by: Carly Flumer, Volunteer

As May is National Military Appreciation Month, we will focus a series of blogs on our Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces program.

Imagine being away from your family for months, or even years, only to come back and not recognize anything. You feel lost in a place which was all too familiar not long ago. What kinds of thoughts would be running through your mind? What kinds of feelings would you want to express? The American Red Cross recognizes that coming home from deployment is one of the most difficult transitions one can make, and we look to make it easier by providing Reconnection Workshops to military members and their families.

These workshops are not only free and confidential, but they build and enhance lasting, positive relationships with those in the community. We realize that some may be scared to share their experiences, while others may be more outspoken; therefore, discussions can be held one-on-one or in groups, depending on preference. All members of every branch of the Armed Forces are welcome to participate, including those in the Reserve, National Guard, active duty members, veterans, and their families.

Adults may choose from five different topics, including:

• Enhancing skills to develop clear communication
• Recognizing and discussing stress, trauma, and other war-related concerns
• Managing signs and symptoms of depression and learning when to seek help
• Reconnecting with children by exploring family dynamics and deployment issues
•  Exploring anger and other intense emotions in different situations

Children and teens may choose from two different topics, including:

• The Roger That! Communication workshop, which focuses on developing and refining listening and communication skills
• The Operation 10-4: Confident Coping workshop, which focuses on recognizing and enhancing strengths to help manage distressing situations

To register for a workshop, go to: http://www.redcross.org/get-help/military-families/deployment-services/register-reconnection-workshops.

National Military Appreciation Month: Hero Care Network

Written by: Carly Flumer, Volunteer

As May is National Military Appreciation Month, we will focus a series of blogs on our Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces program.

May is Military Appreciation Month and the Red Cross supports our troops through a uniquely-developed tool called the Hero Care Network. We recognize that there may be times when emergencies occur. Using this free tool, military families are able to reach out to their loved ones 24/7, providing them extensive access to any location. Every day, more than 300 military families request assistance through the Hero Care Network by either using our online self-service tool via computer, tablet, or cell phone, or by calling a Communication Specialist. 

In order to be eligible for assistance, one must be:

• An active duty member of the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard
• An active member of the Guard and Reserve of all military branches
• A civilian employed by or under contract to the Dept. of Defense and stationed outside the continental United States
• A cadet or midshipman at a service academy; ROTC cadet on orders for training
• A Merchant Marine aboard a U.S. Naval Ship

You can initiate a request for Red Cross emergency assistance for members of the military currently serving on active duty by using the online self-service tool. Using a computer, smart phone or tablet, you can start a request for services and track its progress from anywhere in the world.

Please make sure to have the following available when making your request:

• Full legal name
• Rank/Rating
• Branch of Service
• Social Security Number or Date of Birth
• Military Unit Address
• For deployed service members: information about the deployed unit and home base unit
• Name and contact of the immediate family member experiencing the emergency
• Nature of the emergency
• Where the emergency can be confirmed, such as a hospital, funeral home, etc.

To request assistance online, visit: http://www.redcross.org/get-help/military-families/emergency-communication, download the free Hero Care App, or text "GETHEROCARE" to 90999.

To request assistance via phone, call: 1-877-272-7337.

National Military Appreciation Month: Red Cross Reconnection Workshops

Written by: Kristen Shaw, Volunteer

As May is National Military Appreciation Month, we will focus a series of blogs on our Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces program.

“No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks,” said author James Allen.

This could not be truer of helping our United States service members and their families returning to everyday life after a deployment or their military service has come to an end. No two deployments are alike; time lengths vary, new experiences have been had, and loved ones both home and away have had to miss out on important events or milestones. Often upon returning or re-integrating into society, military men and women struggle with feeling isolated and unable to communicate what they experienced while deployed.

The Red Cross recognizes the notable sacrifices made by our nation’s Military and their loved ones, and so the need for accessible and readily available resources to aid those trying to readjust to their old lives. To aid the needs of all those impacted by a military deployment or service, ‘Reconnection Workshops’ are offered by the Red Cross to ease the process of transitioning back into civilian life – including all branches of the Armed Forces, Reserve, National Guard, active duty service members, veterans and their families. Spouses, parents, children, siblings, significant others, and close friends are also welcome to attend. These free sessions are confidential, small groups of at least three individuals, led by mental health professionals and focusing on positive reconnections, tools, strengths, and coping strategies for reengaging in civilian life.

Sometimes physical or emotional hardships in the form of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS), and depression can present new or more difficult challenges. The Red Cross knows this, too, and attempts to craft some of their modules around the sensitivities that may arise from those specific problems.

‘Reconnection Workshops’ are one of seven programs underneath the Red Cross’ Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) Program and can be dated all the way back to May of 1881, when Clara Barton established the American Branch of the Red Cross.

Another program offered is ‘Mind-Body Workshops’, focused on improving wellness and managing stress using the mind, body and spirit. Through the workshops, the Red Cross teaches easy-to-use skills that connect the body with the mind to help participants cope with stress and trauma.

Children especially can be strongly affected by the stresses and adjustments that accompany a family member’s deployment, and two newer workshops called ‘Roger That! Communication Counts’, and ‘Operation 10-4 Confident Coping’ have also been created to focus on learning the effective ways of problem solving and communication for both younger and older children in the unique situations they face post-deployment.

Clara Barton, who nursed soldiers on the battlefield, stated that “If I can’t be a soldier, I’ll help soldiers.” And that is what these workshops aim to do.

If you or a family member are interested in finding a participating workshop location in the National Capital Region, or in registering, you can find more information here: http://www.redcross.org/get-help/military-families/deployment-services

How The Red Cross Assists Service Members, Veterans And Military Families

Written by: Rosalind SE Carney, volunteer

Did you know... 

The American Red Cross has served more than one million military families since 9/11/01. From the first day of enlistment, service members, veterans and military families can access the following services:

Information Referral

This is a confidential service that provides connections to local, state and national resources. These resources include emergency requests for food, clothing and shelter, referrals to financial, legal and mental health counseling services, and respite care for caregivers. Information referral services operate via a network of Red Cross chapters in nationwide communities and military installations. The American Red Cross Emergency Communications Center is available to help 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call 1-877-272-7337 (toll-free) or contact your local Red Cross.

Deployment Services

Coping with Deployment is a free course that was specifically designed for the spouses, parents, older children, siblings and significant others of service members, as well as military members who may take the course alongside their family. This course offers guidelines for increasing resiliency and information about how to give psychological first aid to others in stressful times. Reconnection Workshops help service members who have recently returned from active duty to reintegrate successfully into the new family dynamic, and help children build emotional and coping skills. 

Veteran Services

In addition to the resource described in “Information Referral,” the Red Cross provides veterans with additional help, including assistance with preparation of benefit claims and information on veterans cemeteries and burial benefits. Within the Veterans Administration (VA) and military hospitals, Red Cross volunteers provide assistance in the areas of rehabilitation, recreation, administration and personal services.

To access these or other services to the armed forces, call 1-877-272-7337 (toll-free) or contact your local Red Cross.

Download the free Hero Care App to access vital emergency and non-emergency resources for military members, veterans and military families by texting "GETHEROCARE" to 90999.

Learn More about Services for Veterans.

Learn More About Information Referral.

Learn More About Deployment Services.

Support Our Troops Beyond Veterans Day

Written by: Rebecca Callahan, volunteer

The international Red Cross and Red Crescent network is the largest humanitarian network in the world, with a presence and activities in almost every country. Yet one aspect of the American Red Cross that generally goes unnoticed is the Service to the Armed Forces (SAF), which is odd considering that Red Cross organizations began to care for the sick and wounded in times of war. First, in Solferino, Italy, a conflict between Austria and the Franco-Sardinian alliance in 1859 led to the establishment of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Then the American Civil War inspired Clara Barton to establish the American Red Cross in 1881. And after the impact of WWI, the foundation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Since September 11, 2001, the American Red Cross SAF team has served more than 1 million military families and continues to provide critical services on military bases and hospitals around the world. When emergencies strike a soldier or military family, SAF Service to the Armed Forces volunteers provide global emergency communication services, mental health support and many other opportunities to help our soldiers. For active duty military members, new Hero Care Network helps loved ones reach soldiers during an emergency. For patients and families being treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center or other military bases can access the Red Cross to help them identify their needs and connect them to the most appropriate resources through Information and Referral Services. Finally at the end of every year, volunteers distribute holiday cards to patients through the Holiday Mail for Heroes program.

It’s incredible to consider all of the ways the Red Cross has maintained our commitment to the men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. So this Veterans Day, please consider volunteering your time or donating to support the Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces.

Helping Service Members Through Loving Paws and a Wagging Tail

Therapy Dog Nikita and Volunteer Ken’s Story

Written by: Rosalind SE Carney, volunteer

Ken Vierra, who also has been an American Red Cross First Aid, CPR and AED Basic/Professional Rescuers Instructor Trainer for many years, is the proud owner and handler of Nikita, a Keeshond therapy dog. Nikita was born on June 11, 2013, in Charlottesville, VA. When she was nine months old, Nikita started her training at the Sit Means Sit Dog Training Center. After two in-home training sessions, Nikita passed the Canine Good Citizen Certification on June 7, 2014. Following the certification, Nikita attended group classes where she was called “a mini superstar” and deemed ready and able to pass the therapy dog training and exam. A few months later, Nikita graduated as a GoTeam Therapy Dog/Advanced Canine Good Citizen. For over the past three years, Nikita has been a member of the Caring Angels Therapy Dog Organization and in June 2017 Nikita became an Arch Angel, which is an Elite Caring Angel therapy dog.

Since 2016, Nikita has participated in the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital Pet Visitation American Red Cross program. In this program, handlers such as Ken regularly bring their therapy dogs into the clinic during the daytime as well as participate in Outreach Events for deploying troops. At the Community Hospital, hospitalized service members interact with the therapy dogs, petting them and receiving affection. This facilitates a unique human-canine bond that can help break down barriers in a way that clinical therapists are sometimes unable to do.

Whereas service dogs are trained to assist an individual with certain tasks, therapy dogs are chosen based on their personalities, such as their ability to always be happy and to show affection. Their handlers dedicate a lot of time and resources to first obtain and then maintain the certified therapy dog status. The dogs are regularly reassessed to ensure that they continue to demonstrate appropriate, positive behaviors.

Ken describes that once he puts the American Red Cross work vest on Nikita, she knows she is in her working role. Whether they spend a few hours at a military outreach event, a full day in a Wounded Warriors clinic or attend group classes, Nikita wears her work vest as a badge of pride. From her Red Cross work and participation in numerous events for other organizations, she has been petted by thousands of children and adults and has been described as a “living teddy bear.” While Nikita gives her loving attention to her adoring crowd, Ken takes the opportunity to educate people about the different services that the American Red Cross provides.

Learn More About Red Cross Therapy Dogs

My Red Cross Volunteer Story: Charlie Brown

Helping Families Reconnect After Deployment: Charlie’s Story as a Red Cross Reconnections Workshop Facilitator and Instructor

Written by: Rosalind SE Carney, volunteer

Charlie Brown (center in picture), a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, is part of the Reconnections Workshop team of volunteers with the American Red Cross in the National Capital Region. Walmart sponsored the development and initial operation of the Workshops, which aid in the successful reintegration of service members to civilian life after deployment. The five adult Workshops are: “Communicating Clearly’, “Exploring Stress and Trauma, “Identifying Depression, “Relating to Children” and “Working Through Anger”. The two children/teen Workshops are: “Roger That! Communication Counts” and “Operation 10-4: Confident Coping.” These workshops run 90-120 minutes for adults and approximately 60-90 minutes for children and teens.

Charlie has 22 years of experience in the military as a Transportation Officer for the United States Air Force. This post included providing transportation and logistics support to the Red Cross during worldwide disaster relief efforts. So when Charlie retired from the military, she felt it was a natural move to volunteer with the Red Cross. She was initially interested in disaster relief efforts, but when the Service to the Armed Forces contacted her she realized this would become her passion. With degrees in psychology, education and extensive expertise in counseling, the Red Cross Reconnections program was a perfect fit.

Charlie’s Workshops focus on providing communication and coping skills to children of service members transitioning back into civilian life. The children learn how to reconnect with their parent and adjust to new family dynamics. In some cases, children need to learn how to cope when their parent returns from deployment with a life-changing injury, paralysis or an amputated limb. Other children face the overwhelming grief of learning their parent has sacrificed his or her life during active duty.

The Workshops are crucial as they provide a unique, supportive and confidential environment. Being around other children dealing with similar challenges helps participants normalize their own experiences and find their voice.

Charlie describes how children are taught visualization skills to help them create a “safe space,” a place of mindfulness that helps them ground negative emotions. Another exercise gives children a “pause button” that helps them control their emotions and realize that words can be powerful and damaging. These exercises are so effective that Charlie is often approached by parents who ask, “How do I get a pause button?”

Charlie gets the most satisfaction from knowing she is helping these children develop skills to make them more resilient. Her vast experience in the mental health field enables her to keep the focus on the Workshops as community skill-building environments, avoiding a therapy-based or institutionalized feel. In her capacity as a Facilitator, Charlie also trains new Instructors how to run Workshops.

The Red Cross Reconnections Workshops are free thanks to the support of the Department of Defense. The Red Cross is also partnering with the USO to reach out to the military and their family members with a program called Warrior Reset. Anyone impacted by a military deployment is eligible, including all branches of the Armed Forces, which includes Reserve, National Guard, active duty service members, veterans and their families.

Learn more about Red Cross Reconnection workshops.

My Red Cross Volunteer Story: David Luke

Dave started volunteering more than 9 years ago. 

When David Luke first started volunteering at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital in 2013, he was not sure where he wanted to give his time. He tried a couple different departments and clinics before realizing where he wanted to be was at the heart of it all – the Red Cross office. Since then, he has become an integral part of the office staff.

But, Dave did not get his Red Cross start at Fort Belvoir. About nine years ago, Dave and his wife began volunteering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center where they manned the comfort cart on the weekends before the hospital closed in 2011.

Prior to his volunteering career, Dave served 20 years in the Air Force and another 20 years in education with the Prince William County school district.

With his wealth of knowledge and amazing attitude, we are happy to award David Luke as the January 2017 volunteer of the month.

Thank you Dave for all that you do to support our military families!