The American Red Cross movement began on the battlefield, where founder Clara Barton nursed wounded soldiers during the Civil War. That same spirit resonates today as the American Red Cross works to provide a breadth of support services to military men and women and their families.
These include local resources for military families, transition and reintegration support for wounded soldiers in military hospitals and emergency communications services.
For instance, the Red Cross works 24-hours, 365 days a year to relay urgent messages that contain accurate, factual
and verified descriptions of emergencies such as the serious illness or death of a family member, to service members anywhere in the world including remote locations or on ships at sea. Information provided to the member’s commanding officers helps them decide about allowing an emergency leave. For members and their families, having that avenue of emergency contact gives peace of mind while they are apart.
There is even a program designed to help families of newly enlisted soldiers, the “Get to Know Us Before You Need Us” program, which provides important information about military life and some of the challenges that a new military family might face.
For more information, visit RedCrossLA.org
