Back As the nation dedicates the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. to honor the 16-million Americans who served in the U.S. armed forces during the war, the American Red Cross is commemorating the sacrifice and heroism of the millions more who helped provide comfort, relief, and aid to those in need.  The Red Cross has developed a new exhibit entitled, Volunteering for Victory, which is designed to educate the public on the role Red Cross volunteers, donors, and supporters played during the Second World War. Volunteering for Victory: The Volunteering for Victory exhibit is located at the American Red Cross Visitors Center in Washington, D.C.   However, the St. Louis area public can take a virtual tour online at www.redcrossstl.org.  The virtual exhibit includes both historical photos of Red Cross service and personal accounts from volunteers on the role the Red Cross played in WWII.  This service included: • Providing emergency communication between members of the armed forces and their families. • Recruiting more than 100,000 registered nurses and certified them for the military. • Collecting more than 13 million pints of blood for military patients. • Assembling and shipping 28 million food and medicine parcels for U.S. and Allied prisoners of war. • Providing war relief supplies for 75 million civilians overseas. • Carrying on extensive relief and rehabilitation programs for the civilian war victims. • Stockpiling plasma from the new Red Cross Blood Donor Service for the armed forces. • Operating recreation clubs and club mobiles in rest and recreation areas overseas and providing compassionate services for the troops they accompanied. • Serving troops at military hospitals, hospital ships, and hospital trains. The Volunteering for Victory online exhibit also includes a link to a vintage store containing commemorative WWII items like knit kits, posters, buttons, and shirts.  All proceeds from the sale benefit the mission of the American Red Cross, which includes ongoing support for military members and their families. 2004 – The Tradition of Service Continues: Today, the Red Cross continues its mission of providing assistance to service men and women and their families.  Overseas, Red Cross personnel serve on 109 military bases around the world and alongside our troops in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Kosovo, and Afghanistan.  Using the latest computer and telecommunications technology, the Red Cross allows troops stationed all over the world to send messages to loved ones back home during an emergency, or other important events.  These communications are delivered around-the-clock, seven days a week, 365 days a year.  Furthermore, the Red Cross provides informational and emotional support for families while their loved ones are fighting overseas. For more information about Red Cross military services, contact the St. Louis Area Chapter at 314-516-2800 or visit online at www.redcrossstl.org. This story may be available for an Adobe Acrobat PDF download. Click on the link below to visit the site download center. If a PDF is available, the file will automatically open in your browser.

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