News Release: March 21, 2003
Contact: Janice Osborne, Manager-Media & Community Affairs
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262
As in the case of previous high-profile conflicts – the Persian Gulf War in 1990, the crisis in Kosovo in 1999 and the conflict in Afghanistan that began in 2002 – the American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES) is fulfilling its fundamental role during the current U.S. military action against Iraq.
“Keeping families in touch with their loved ones in the armed forces during times of family crisis is one of the fundamental missions of the Red Cross and is one of the mandates in our congressional charter,” said Cordelia Miller, director of Emergency Services at the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley. “The Red Cross is the sole agency designated to provide emergency communications for the U.S. military. If family members have an urgent need such as the news of a birth, death or family illness – it’s the Red Cross that provides the link between the family and service member.
“Messages are sent quickly, anywhere in the world, including ships at sea, embassies and isolated military units,” said Miller. Last year, the local Red Cross sent 288 emergency communications to military personnel across the country and around world.
In addition to assisting active duty military personnel, the local Red Cross provides assistance to members of the National Guard and the Reserves through its “Get to Know Us Before You Need Us” campaign.
“The face of the military is changing,” said Miller. “Many men and women in our area called to service left their daily roles of parent, co-worker, neighbor or friend. All too often, we found that community-based military members -- Reserves and National Guard – didn’t know about valuable Red Cross services until they were mobilized. The ‘Get to Know Us Before You Need Us’ gives them the information they need before they are called into service.”
Since the conflict began in Afghanistan in 2002, the local Red Cross has given 10 deployment briefs to 890 departing service members and their families in the Greater Lehigh Valley. Those service members were part of the Army Reserve, National Guard, Navy/Marine Corps Reserve, Air Defense and Artillery units in Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties.
At those meetings, service members and their families learn about the Red Cross emergency communications function, the financial assistance available to them in an emergency and confidential counseling. Each service member is given a bag of personal care items and other sundries to make their military stay a more comfortable one.
“As more and more National Guard and Reserve units are called to full-time duty status, counseling becomes increasingly important,” said Miller. “Red Cross is here to help families cope with separation and other special needs.”
The commitment doesn’t end with a service member’s career. Red Cross continues to provide assistance to veterans in filing government financial claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs and other types of assistance.
Last year, the chapter provided counseling and referrals to 1,250 military individuals and families, and a total of $3,297 in emergency assistance grants was given to veterans, military personnel and civilians.
“More than ever, we are committed to supporting our military,” said Miller. “We count on our soldiers to always be there for our country, and our soldiers can count on the Red Cross.”
All Red Cross services to the military are free and made possible by the voluntary donations of time, money and blood from the American people. Financial support of American Red Cross AFES can be made by calling 1-800-HELP NOW or visiting www.redcross.org and making a secure online donation to “AFES-Iraq Response.” Your gift will support the nationally coordinated Red Cross services provided to military families across the country and to the American service men and women located throughout the world.
The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 660,000 residents in Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross provided health and safety education training and emergency relief services to more than 20,000 Greater Lehigh Valley residents. For more information, call (610) 865-4400 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.
