ROTC Suds Up

ARMY ROTC SUDS UP FOR THE RED CROSS

Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Students from Alabama A&M University (AAMU), University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), Athens State University (ASU), and others participated in a sudsy service project at Madison/Marshall Chapter of the American Red Cross.

On April 30, 2008, Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) students from Alabama A&M University (AAMU), University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), Athens State University (ASU), and others participated in a service project at Madison/Marshall Chapter of the American Red Cross. These young people, who are preparing for a career in the United States Army, have decided to donate their service to the Red Cross by cleaning and washing the Madison/Marshall County Chapter vehicles. Lt. Col. Louis Harris is the Professor of Military Science at Alabama A & M, host ROTC school for the Army’s senior ROTC officer commissioning programs in this area.

The Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) are used when Disaster Action Teams (DAT) are called by city and county fire departments to offer assistance to clients who have been affected by a house fire or an apartment fire. DAT teams operate 24/7. Through March 2008 there have been 67 families affected by fire, and ten additional fires by mid-April in Madison County. This service project assists Red Cross in maintaining the appearance of the ERVs and other Red Cross vehicles which are used on a daily basis to support the activities of volunteers and staff.. Lt. Col. Harris states, “Many ROTC students are volunteers and donors to the Red Cross and are encouraged to participate in service projects such as this in our community. The most important aspect is supporting the crucial mission of the organization and developing character and leadership through service to others in AAMU, UAH, ASU ROTC cadets.”

The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected. Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. An average of 90 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.

MADISON/MARSHALL COUNTY CHAPTER AMERICAN RED CROSS

PROUDLY SERVING OUR MILITARY

CONNECTING SOLDIERS AND FAMILIES 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR