A Historic Red Cross Friendship: Honoring Black History Month

By: Lauren McMinn Clarke, American Red Cross volunteer contributor

Trailblazing can be lonely work. It is important to have supporters around when a groundbreaking path is forged.

Frederick Douglass, photo courtesy PBS

When nurse Clara Barton (1821-1912) was trying to rally national support to create an American Red Cross, she found wonderful encouragement in African American antislavery author and activist Frederick Douglass (1818-1895).

Barton had already been an avid supporter of the Black Civil Rights movement; during the war, she aided not only soldiers from both North and South, but she also aided wounded soldiers regardless of their race.

Douglass and Barton met right after the Civil War, while Barton was on a nationwide tour giving speeches about the war.

Douglass lent his support in 1882 to the Red Cross “Appeal to the American People” to raise money to assist victims of the Mississippi River floods. He continued to support Barton and the American Red Cross, becoming one of the founding members of the organization.

Some have said that Frederick Douglass's early participation in the creation of the American Red Cross paved the way for Steve D. Bullock to become the organization's first African American Acting President in 1999.

During this Black History Month, we are proud to honor the contributions of humanitarian Frederick Douglass to the American Red Cross.

**This story originally posted on February 3, 2014**

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Happy Flag Day, From the American Red Cross

by Micaela Rosinski, intern contributor 

I love America. Our freedoms, our rights, our food…it is all amazing. But most of all, I love our flag. It would be safe to say if I could be the crazy lady in American flag outfits every day, I would be. The red, white and blue, the stars and stripes: it is great. 

As you may or may not know, there is a holiday just for the United States flag. Flag Day is celebrated June 14 and commemorates the day the flag was authorized by congress.

According to The National Flag Day Foundation website, Bernard John Cigrand, a 19-year-old teacher in Waubeka, Wisconson, encouraged students to find personal meaning in the flag and celebrate the “flag’s birthday.” Due to Cigrand’s work, President Wilson issued a proclamation on May 30, 1916, calling for a nation-wide observance of Flag Day. 


The Red Cross’ own founder, Clara Barton, held great respect for the flag. During her service in the Civil War, Barton helped raise the U.S. flag over the Andersonville grounds where she helped establish a national cemetery.

The origins of the Red Cross and Barton’s work are still visible today. The Red Cross serves those who fight to protect our flag and what it represents. Through a variety of facets, including linking military families during emergencies, providing resiliency training, and supporting wounded warriors and military hospitals, the Red Cross works to help those that serve the United States.

Today, the flag is as strong of a symbol for America as ever before. Many aspects of etiquette to protect the flag come with such a well-respected symbol. The following tips will help you display your flag with pride during upcoming holidays:

• The flag should be lighted at all times, either by sunlight or by an appropriate light source.
• The flag should be flown in fair weather, unless the flag is designed for inclement weather use.
• The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
• The flag should never be used for receiving, holding carrying or delivering anything.
• When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms.

(Source: USA Flag Site)

As American summer holidays near and you fire up the grill and jump in the pool, safely, of course, take a moment to reflect on what our flag means to you. Display the flag proudly and have a great Flag Day!

For more information on Red Cross Services to the Armed Forces, visit RedCross.org.

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Celebrating Women’s History Month: The Red Cross for the Every Woman

by Lilly Watson, Communications Manager, American Red Cross

During WWI & II, the Red Cross featured
women in their iconic advertising posters.

During Women’s History Month, it is typical to think about famous women who will go down in history, and we certainly have no shortage of them here at the Red Cross. Our founder, Clara Barton, was a feminist far ahead of her time. Jane Delano was the founder of the American Red Cross Nursing Service and pioneered the modern nursing profession. Here in Texas, activist and First Lady of the United States, Lady Bird Johnson, chaired the Senate Wives Red Cross Unit and wrapped bandages and sewed items for hospitalized veterans. She earned the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the American Red Cross Central Texas Chapter in 2007. 

Women have served for the
Red Cross long before society
deemed it appropriate. 

The true testament to the Red Cross’ place in women’s history, though, is how it allows every woman to find a place to serve and find personal purpose and fulfillment, and has done so long before society deemed it appropriate. Before women had the right to vote, Clara Barton brought them on the battlefield during the Civil War. 

When American men went off to fight in World War I and II, the American Red Cross recognized the women behind the effort by making them the forefront of its advertising campaigns. These iconic posters are still used today to show the Red Cross’ history of inclusion and support to those in crisis. Without them, we might easily forget the great contributions of women to the war effort during a time that they were not able to deploy to battle themselves. 

Women serving food and drinks
to the troops from the Red Cross
Clubmobile during WWII.

During World War II, women served through the Red Cross at home and abroad through the Red Cross Club, working in hospitals and traveling in trucks to serve cookies and donuts to those fighting in battle. 

Today, the Red Cross continues to be a place where people of all backgrounds can come together to serve those facing disaster, in our country and abroad. We’re proud to commemorate the women who have proudly served others through the American Red Cross for more than a century during Women’s History Month!

To start your story as a Red Cross volunteer, visit redcross.org.

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The First Boss of the Red Cross: Clara Barton

Written by Catherine Carlton, volunteer contributor

Today, we celebrate Boss’s Day. While we recognize our current bosses, managers and mentors, we at the Red Cross want to honor our first boss: Clara Barton.  She was a true leader whose work continues our organization’s mission forward.

We’ve written about Barton several times on this blog, but this is the perfect time to talk about her as our organization’s leader.

Barton was the president of the American National Red Cross for 22 years. She adopted the framework of the Red Cross to fit the needs of the United States in war and peace. Prior to that, she led the charge for finding missing soldiers and fighting for the Geneva Treaty.

Proof of good leadership can be its lasting effects. The proof of Barton’s good leadership can be seen in the establishment and continuation of good deeds by the American Red Cross.

Barton led by example when it came to putting in hard work for a cause that she was passionate about. She also championed for women’s rights in the workplace by creating an organization where women could work and have a voice.

Even before she began the American Red Cross, Barton was changing the way the workforce operated. After Barton opened a school in New Jersey and saw attendance soar to 600 students, it was observed that a head of the school was needed. When a man was chosen for the position over Barton, she moved to Washington D.C. and began work as a clerk in the U.S. Patent Office. This was the first time a woman had received a substantial clerkship in the federal government.

During her groundbreaking career, Barton worked closely with notable feminist leaders such as Susan B. Anthony and Lucy Stone.  Barton was the most decorated American woman, having received the Iron Cross, the Cross of Imperial Russia and the International Red Cross Medal. 

Profiles in Caring describes Barton as “one of America's greatest heroines -- a true patriot and philanthropist who, when she saw a practical need, gave every ounce of her strength to address it.”

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Notes from the Chief's Desk: CEO Message

Written by T.D. Smyers, chief executive officer North Texas Region

“I have an almost complete disregard of precedent, and a faith in the possibility of something better. It irritates me to be told how things have always been done. I defy the tyranny of precedent. I go for anything new that might improve the past.”   
- Clara Barton

One year ago, the North Texas Region of the American Red Cross was born. It was a time of hopeful expectation for some and great anxiety for others. But one need only review these words from Clara Barton to know what our founder would have thought of the organizational change that was necessary to save the American Red Cross, including the creation of regions to handle a lot of the back office functions that had previously burdened our chapters. 

Of course, appealing to Clara means that the change should “improve the past” by advancing the effectiveness and efficiency by which we deliver the historic Red Cross mission.

When I was given the privilege of leading this Region, it became my focus to ensure our regional staff team – both employees and volunteers – were catalysts to the delivery of our mission rather than being an additional layer of bureaucracy. To this end, our team set about identifying just what it is we should be doing. We didn’t need a mission statement. We already had that, courtesy of our national leadership:

Mission Statement

The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.

What we did need was to define our purpose in support of that mission. With input and review by employees and volunteers across the Region, we did just that:

Purpose Statement of the North Texas Region

To Support, Resource and Enable the work of North Texas Chapters in executing the mission of the Red Cross.

In order to realize this purpose, and keep us focused, we determined three strategic goals as well:

Strategic Goals of the North Texas Region

1. Optimize and strengthen the identity of local chapters and build a culture of collaboration across the    Region. 
2. Become the charity of choice for Time, Talent and Treasure in communities across North Texas. 
3. Be the top Region in American Red Cross for revenue, volunteerism and diversity.

The staff's and volunteer's pursuit of these goals will reinforce the great work done by American Red Cross chapters every day.

I’ve been impressed by how committed our national leaders are to the “upside down pyramid”, meaning that chapters in the field really take the lead role. When an Emergency Response Vehicle rolls up to a curb because a family burned out in the middle of the night, it’s a local Red Cross volunteer that provides the service. 

When a service member needs important communication from home, they reach out to their local chapter. The same is true when a person wants to become a lifeguard, learn CPR or donate a pint of blood. 

So while there have been many changes in the organizational leadership of the Red Cross, there hasn’t been change in keeping Red Cross services strong at the local level. 

At the North Texas Region, we’re committed to serving our communities across the top of the state of Texas. 

One final note. 

One senior volunteer who wasn’t happy about “regionalization” recently told me that she had changed her mind about the reorganization; mostly because she’s seen such tremendous support from the Region that she knows “things are different this time”. 

In fact, she said she feels more connected to the Red Cross now than she ever did when her chapter was operated independently. 

Good days are ahead. BZ!

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Happy Birthday to Us!!

On May 21, 1881, Clara Barton and a group of friends held the first meeting of the American Red Cross society in Washington, D.C.

So today, the American Red Cross turns 129. Don't we look good for our age?!

A Bit of Our History

Before Clara Barton began the American Red Cross, she helped nurse soldiers on the battlefield during the Civil War. She brought them food and other supplies. Later she helped the families of missing soldiers find out what happened to them. When Clara went to Europe on vacation in 1869, she found out about a new international organization called the Red Cross that helped wounded and sick soldiers in times of war. Because of her experiences during the Civil War, Clara was determined to bring the Red Cross idea back to America.

Thank you Clara Barton for your vision!

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