The American Red Cross supports military members and their families. The American Red Cross is there for all members of the Armed Forces. While serving 1.4 million active duty personnel and their immediate family members, the Red Cross also reaches out to the more than 1.2 million members of the National Guard / Reserves and their immediate family members who reside in nearly every community across the country. Around the clock and around the globe, during times of personal crisis, the Red Cross keeps Americans in touch with their family members serving in the U.S. military with: - Emergency Communication services. The Red Cross is a lifeline to members of the US Armed Forces sending communications all over the world on behalf of family members who are facing emergencies or other important events. The Red Cross provides this service quickly through a network of chapters, stations, communication centers and staff members serving on military installations and major deployment sites worldwide. This network links military personnel any place in the world (including ships at sea, embassies and isolated military units) with their loved ones. The information int he message assists the command to make a valid decision regarding emergency leave. Last year, the Red Cross provided approximately 630,000 emergency communication services to almost 173,800 military families worldwide. - Outreach to members of the National Guard / Reserves and their families. The Red Cross found that often, community-based military doesn't know the valuable Red Cross services until they are mobilized. Since 2000, Red Cross has been reaching out to Military members and their family members with this important information. Information is getting out through the Get to Know Us Briefings. - Social services including access to financial assistance, counseling, family support and assistance with representation at the Board of Veterans Appeals. - Emergency Communications with Staff members who deploy overseas along with members of the military. They can offer respite from harsh conditions and bring a little bit of home to the troops by operating a 24-hour canteen service with coffee, cold drinks, snacks, games, videos and books. Red Cross teams also visit patients at the VA Hospital and the West Virginia State Veterans Nursing Home facility. - Family support groups at many Red Cross chapters and stations. Here family members can be with others who are also learning to cope with separation and about community resources that can help through these challenges. Contact Connie Hull, Emergency Services Director for more information about forming a group in your area. | 
