December 1941. Washington, DC. First group of Red Cross Nurses’ Aides for civilian defense is graduated in the Nation’s Capital. Red Cross Nurse Virginia Flaig, left, fastens nurse’s aide pin on graduate Colby Ranneft as Celia Martin waits in line. The American Red Cross will teach a total of 100, 000 volunteer nurses’ aides to relieve registered nurses for military duty. Photo by Felice Fusco and Elwood Johnson/American Red Cross