Like many military spouses living in the greater Washington, D.C. area, I get my medical care at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Sitting in the lobby at a recent medical appointment, I couldn’t help but notice how busy the place was. People coming in and out, wounded warriors heading to appointments, medical equipment being delivered, staff members rushing to their next shift, and patients receiving critical care.
Do you know what to do to keep your family safe from winter weather? The safest place to be in a winter storm, in fact, is inside. If you must go outside, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your family.
I remember learning of Clarissa Harlowe Barton, better known as Clara Barton, in elementary school. Photos of her depicted a graceful woman with perfectly-braided hair pinned up elegantly on the back of her head, wearing a large dark gown and a gentle smile.
As children, we learn of her contributions to American history through the founding of the American Red Cross, but it wasn’t until I started volunteering for the organization that I unearthed the magnitude of her efforts and how it led to the organization I hold so dearly today.
This month, Military Family Appreciation Month, as we honor those who served (both past and present) as well as military families, I’ve also been thinking a lot about the caregivers.
Caregivers are there in times of celebration, tribulation, and all of the beautiful moments in between. Today, there are 5.5 million people in the United States caring for aging, injured, or wounded veterans. And 1.1 million people provide care for post-9/11 veterans. Nearly a third of these caregivers are under the age of 30.
In a matter of minutes, a home fire can engulf the building, destroying belongings, precious mementos of times gone by, and a family’s sense of normal and peace of mind.
At the American Red Cross, the most frequent disaster we respond to—doing so every single day—are home fires. The statistics are staggering.
I’m on an airplane right now, looking out of the window and marveling at the beauty of the clouds up here, above it all. Truthfully, I’m one part in awe and one part ready to not feel anymore turbulence as I admire the expansive sky. But as we all know, if you take a journey by air, turbulence is usually an unwanted part of any long flight on a plane.
Over this last week, I’ve spent my time in Germany. I’ve had the distinct pleasure of spending every day at Ramstein Air Base and U.S. Army Garrison Rhine Ordnance Barracks. While there, I supported American Red Cross teams as they selflessly and tirelessly provided relief to Afghan evacuees who are making their way to America.
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