With U.S. troops deployed in Iraq, the American Red Cross is
asking its chapters across the nation to establish local support
groups for military family members so they can meet and offer words
of encouragement during troubled times.
With U.S. troops deployed in Iraq, the American Red Cross is asking its chapters across the nation to establish local support groups for military family members so they can meet and offer words of encouragement during troubled times.
An informational meeting for families of soldiers serving in the war will be held today at 7 p.m. at the Red Cross office, 341 Tres Pinos Road, suite 207-A.
“We had several people tell us there isn’t a support system for the moms, dads, husbands and wives of these soldiers,” said Kathryn Engelhard, executive director of the Red Cross San Benito County Chapter. “We’re here to start a support group for these people to let them know what agencies are available for them.”
The number of calls that have come into the Red Cross office prompted officials to give attention to the concerns of soldiers’ families.
“The calls have been ongoing, and the longer the war goes on the more family crisis will arise,” Engelhard said. “We normally don’t get involved with the politics, but (Red Cross) national headquarters have asked us to support our troops and their families.”
To help locate loved ones when sending an emergency message, the Red Cross needs the following information: the service member’s full name, rank, branch of service, Social Security number, military address and information about the deployed unit and the home base unit.
For more information, call the San Benito County chapter at 636-2100.
