Col. Gregory S. Zehner, Gail McGovern, and Justin Constantine sign cards at the Holiday Mail for Heroes kick off event in

Washington DC on November 3rd.

Our culture is constantly debating what public figures, celebrities and athletes are adequate role models for our children. This past month I had the wonderful opportunity to meet and reflect on some of my heroes—people who have shown extraordinary courage and selflessness on behalf of our country and others around the world.

Justin Constantine (seen above) was shot in the head by a sniper six weeks into his deployment as a Marine Reservist in Iraq in 2006. The bullet missed his brain, coming in under his left ear and exiting his mouth. He said if it wasn’t for a fellow corpsman who performed rescue breathing and an emergency tracheotomy, he would have died right there on the spot.

Justin, now an associate general counsel for the Department of Justice, spoke at our kick-off event in Washington, D.C., for the Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign on November 3^rd. This is the Red Cross’ annual drive asking the public to send holiday cards with messages of cheer and appreciation for our service members serving away from home this holiday. Together with our incredible partner, Pitney Bowes, we collect cards, screen them for hazardous materials, and deliver them to military bases and hospitals, veteran’s hospitals and other locations during the holidays. 

After Justin bravely spoke about his surgeries, his time spent in the hospital and how much it meant to receive cards of encouragement from men and women around the country that he didn’t even know, there was not a dry eye in the room. Not only did Justin give his time to serve our country, but he suffered a devastating injury that has only moved him to continue to serve others in need. He now volunteers his time with the Wounded Warrior Project, which helps our wounded heroes successfully adjust to life after being injured.

Justin has an incredible heart for service, a deep appreciation for all the support he received during his recovery and a strong spirit that no bullet can take away. He is truly one of my heroes, and I’m grateful for how willing he is to share his story and advocate for our service men and women.

As if that experience weren’t moving enough, the next week I had the honor of attending the Pentagon premiere of George Lucas’ documentary “Double Victory.” The film chronicles the battle African-American airmen fought during WWII, not just against the Axis powers but against racial discrimination. Their courage, determination and belief in true freedom led them to fight for the training they needed and the opportunity to fly and protect our country.

These brave men are also my heroes. Their unyielding desire to serve and to be granted equal rights represent the best of America.

After these experiences, I couldn’t help but relate to the story I read last week about Justin Timberlake attending the Marine Corp Ball with a marine who asked him to be her date via YouTube. Justin wrote a moving blog about his experience saying he’d met many of his heroes in life, like Michael Jordan and Michael Jackson, but no one made him feel more honored than meeting the heroes he spent time with at the Marine Corp Ball.

He urged Americans to be active in thanking our military members for their sacrifice—thanking them in person, sending them an email, buying them a beer. I couldn’t agree more. Our Holiday Mail for Heroes mailbox is open through December 9^th. Your card will warm the heart of a service member serving in Iraq, Afghanistan or even San Diego, who is away from friends and family this holiday season.

As the stepmom of an Air Force member who spent two holiday seasons in Iraq, I know how deeply touched he was when received these cards. In his words, they helped him get through the holidays knowing others cared.  In fact, this Thanksgiving I will be hosting my own Holiday Mail for Heroes event – right around my kitchen table.  My dinner guests will be making holiday cards for our troops – I would encourage you to consider doing the same at your Thanksgiving feast.

As we begin preparations to celebrate Thanksgiving this week, I’m so very thankful for the heroes in our U.S. military and their families. Their sacrifice ensures our safety and freedom. They truly embody the heart of the Red Cross Mission of service.

(Spoiler alert: Seventeen‘s blog also hints at this mission.)

Pick up a copy to read the heroic story of Jahan Nurhussein, a volunteer with the Greater Chicago chapter, who saved a man’s life using CPR.

National Celebrity Cabinet member Penn Badgley also shares his Red Cross involvement and encourages CPR training.

Seventeen readers also score the chance to learn the skills to save a life! The first 1,000 people to enter the code found on the Seventeen page will get trained in hands-only CPR by the American Red Cross.

Want to learn more about how the hands-only CPR technique can make the lifesaving difference to someone who suffers sudden cardiac arrest? Check out this video!

• RedCrossPDX VIDEO – Hero Jack the Chihuahua, who saved residents in an Oregon City apartment w/ his growl: http://tr.im/R901
• redcrossny Changing Lives blog story by Sharon Hawa: “Timing is everything.” http://bit.ly/dba7zP
• stlredcross New Blog: Lindsey Weber- Tuesday Trivia: And the Oscar Goes To http://ow.ly/16KYfs
• Federation (Photo of the day) Taking care of traumatized patients in #Haiti : http://bit.ly/awFAHx
• RedCrossSELA Lauren is on Spring Break – then busy recruiting the next round of #AmeriCorps – could that be you? http://tr.im/RbZQ
• redcrossink Armond Mascelli, VP of Operations for ARC Disaster Services has a letter from our government announcing that ARC is NIMS compliant.
• shaunroberts Glad to see HopCo fire depts strengthen accountability standards so that our fire fighters are better protected & fire scenes more efficient
• attiep21 Great article re: ICRC Museum in Geneva – “chacun est responsable de tout devant tous” – http://b2l.me/fdhwd

What do actor Masi Oka and the Red Cross have in common?

Heroes!

In addition to starring in the TV show, Heroes, Oka is one of thousands of real-life heroes who volunteer with the Red Cross.

So just in case you’re a fan of his (and who isn’t?) I thought I’d let you know that he will be appearing on several shows this New Year’s weekend, talking about his work with the Red Cross and encouraging more people to get involved.

Here’s the rough schedule:

12/31 (Thursday) on the NBC Today Show – appearance some time in the 9:00 am hour, probably at 9:30

12/31 (Thursday) on the Carson Daly New Year’s show – appearance sometime in the 10:00 pm hour or after 11:30 pm

1/2 (Saturday) on the Weekend Today Show – appearance some time in the 8:00 am hour, probably at 8:30

“I know that being part of something bigger than myself has made a real difference in my life. With the New Year upon us, why not think about how volunteering your time or being a blood donor can make a difference to you… and others. We can all be heroes this holiday season by supporting the Red Cross.”

[Words from Masi Oka. Links created by me. Click and get involved!]

We don’t want to play favorites, but we have a bunch of Kurt Warner photos from last year’s midwest tornadoes and storms. Enjoy and good luck to both teams this Sunday.

YouTube user Lancecorp just posted a video response called Red Cross Anthem to several of our videos. We all just gathered around my desk to watch it. I suggest you do the same.

Thank you to the people who wrote this song and put together this video. We want to talk to you!

A slice of history to help celebrate the Dog Days of Summer – it’s the tale of the first ever therapy dog.

Dear Red Cross,

In the March of 1946 issue of the Junior Red Cross News there appeared an article with photos by Red Cross correspondent Dora Jane Hamblin from Manila about my Yorkshire Terrier, Smoky who was doing dog therapy work in military hospitals across the SWPA and Pacific Theater of Operations. Practically all of this was arranged by American Red Cross workers.

You may be interested to know Smoky has been found by Animal Planet Channel research to be the first therapy dog of record. Besides this Smoky is the most famous war dog of WWII and now has six memorials nation wide. The Westminster Dog Show honored her with 21/2 minutes of national TV Time during the Feb 11, 2008 dog show at Madison Square Garden. Her six page story with 10 photos appears in the current America in WWII magazine, (July, ’08. )

I was wondering if the Red Cross would like an updated story about what happened to the four pound yorkie that was found in a New Guinea foxhole and went on to become, YANK Magazine’s “Champ Mascot of the SWPA ” in 1944 , and AMERICAN magazine’s”Most Useful Dog in America”in 1950 for visiting Military hospitals, ( and civilian hospitals ,orphanages and rest homes.)

It may interest you to know that the therapy dog title was coined 20 years after Smoky began her work and the certifying of therapy dogs by the Delta Society came about in 1974, 30 years after Smoky’s first adventure of going on rounds to visit battlefield casualties from the Biak Is. Invasion in July of 1944.

Such much is happening now for Smoky:

• A black tie Dinner in her honor at the New Yorker Hotel in NYC.
• World War 2 Dogs of War Monument, Yorkie Doodle Dandy, Smoky I
• Smoky (dog) – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sincerely,

Bill Wynne
Smoky War Dog

We’re still working furiously to respond to those affected by the flooding and storms throughout the central United States.

But,

here in Washington DC (where the heat wave has broken thank goodness) we’re joined by busloads of well-dressed women visiting headquarters for our Tiffany Circle Summit.

This afternoon I had the privilege to sit in on their luncheon where I was moved by guest speaker Dr. Haleh Esfandiari, the Iranian American woman who was held in solitary confinement for 105 days in Tehran. She told the Tiffany Circle audience that it is incumbent upon us living in the free world to insist that rights are universal and apply to all individuals.”

After her prepared speech, she took questions including:

How did you manage all those days of solitary confinement?

I knew I was not forgotten. I knew there was little I could do with the situatiuon so I made a program for my days. I would wake up, shower, and then do 7-10 hours of exercise walking around my cell. I took enough exercise classes in the United States that I could make routines - I knew how to do it. 

To stay mentally sane, I wrote 2 books in my mind. One my maternal grandmother’s biography and the other a children’s story for my own children.

Then I was usually interrogated. I had to just face a wall never a person.

I did not think about my family because it was too difficult.  

Were you aware of the advocacy campaigns conducted on your behalf while in prison?

Not really. During interrogations I would get clues some days when they asked questions like, “How do you know Obama?” I had no idea he was a Presidential candidate but had been at an event with him and 600 other people once. Turns out he was the first Senator to speak on my behalf.

How did your imprisonment change your life?

I learned that living in a country where rule of law matters is important.

Who was the first person you hugged upon your release?

My mom.

How is your mother?

She is doing well.

All in all an inspiring lunch. The Summit continues this evening with a dinner at the State Department to recognize Alma Powell (wife of Colin Powell) with the American Red Cross Legacy of Service Award.

One of the many places hit by a tornado last week was Picher, Oklahoma, which also happens to be the hometown of one of our Celebrity Cabinet Members, Rascal Flatts’ Joe Don Rooney.

Joe immediately jumped to action by putting on his Red Cross vest and helping out his neighbors recovering from the tornado (in addition to donating $50,000).

For this and many other shining examples of the band’s humanitarian work, the Academy of Country Music and Home Depot awarded Joe and his bandmates a Humanitarian Award during last night’s Country Music Awards.

Here’s pretty close to what they said as they accepted the award:  

And we’ve been firm believers that if you get, you give back. And thats what we’ve tried and I want to challenge everybody out there to give your blessings back because it will come back to you 100 times over, i promise you. I want to add real quick my home town of Picher, Oklahoma was hit by a devastating tornado last saturday night so Gary and Jay and I and all of our prayers and thoughts are you with in my hometown and thank the Red Cross for doing such an amazing job. You guys, you men and women are heroes in my eyes. Thank you.

RELATED:

>> Rascal Flatts features American Red Cross in new music video

FDR first proclaimed March is Red Cross Month in 1943, and all the presidents since have declared the month of March as Red Cross Month.

Every chapter celebrates in a different way, but many challenge their local supporters to raise money by holding their own unique fundraisers.

We at headquarters often concentrate on the national media outlets, but the Red Cross is really about local communities, so we thought it might be fun to show you how a bunch of areas support Red Cross Month in their own ways:

• Herald-Mail of the Mid-Atlantic
• The Daily Register in Wisconsin
• The Daily News Journal in Tennessee
• The Post Journal in New York
• Our Midland in Michigan

Without a doubt, a main focus of Red Cross Month is getting prepared. Joining in that sentiment are these locations:

• Weatherford Democrat in Texas
• Talk of the Town in Indiana

How is your community celebrating? Will you commemorate March? Perhaps with they purchase of a handy-dandy preparedness kit?