Category Archives: Service to Armed Forces

Veterans Day message from CEO Mike Parks

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Annually, on November 11th, our nation recognizes Veterans Day, when we honor all those men and women who served in the Armed Forces.  I was recently asked the difference between various holidays that honor the military, so I thought I’d share a few thoughts. 

Mike Parks, Rear Admiral, United States Coast Guard (Retired), Regional CEO, American Red Cross of Northern Ohio

Armed Forces Day:  Celebrated on the third Saturday in May and honors all those currently serving in the Armed Forces. 

Memorial Day:   Celebrated the last Monday in May and honors all those who lost their lives during military service to our nation.  Note:  Since this holiday is about commemorating those that have died, it’s not appropriate to wish someone a “Happy Memorial Day.” 

Veterans Day:  Celebrated the 11th of November and honors all those who have served in the Armed Forces.

I’ve seen it explained this way:  Armed Forces Day honors everyone in uniform.  Veterans Day honors everyone who wore the uniform.  Memorial Day honors those who never had the chance to get out of the uniform. 

Although these three significant holidays differ in their recognition, the one thing they most definitely have in common is they all honor the concept of sacrifice.  Whether a current Service member, or someone who has previously served, or those that paid the ultimate price—they all sacrificed, or are sacrificing, for their fellow man.  That’s what so special about their sacrifice—it’s forgoing something of value to them–often their own freedom of choice as they serve, deploy, and put themselves in harm’s way.   Their collective sacrifice is why we have the freedoms we enjoy, and regrettably, often take for granted, today. 

Veterans Day (yes—there’s no apostrophe because it honors all Veterans and doesn’t “belong” to them) began as Armistice Day on November 11, 1919, to commemorate the end of World War I.  Although it became a legal holiday in 1938 to honor WWI veterans, in 1954 the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all American veterans who served.

Even though we should never wait to do so, let us not miss the opportunity to fly our American flags, say the Pledge of Allegiance, sing our National Anthem, and recognize a veteran next Tuesday on Veterans Day.  It’s the least we can do to honor their sacrifice.  Thank you Veterans and God Bless the United States of America!  

Whether at Home or Abroad, the Red Cross Is There for Those Who Serve 

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By Tim Poe, American Red Cross volunteer. 

Assisting members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families has been a core tenet of the American Red Cross since its founding. In honoring Veterans Day, November 11th, we wish to highlight our Services to the Armed Forces (SAF) programs. To help do so, I spoke with Nasir Ahmad, Program Specialist with the Red Cross’s SAF & International Services. He is also a US Air Force veteran. 

Regional COO Tim O’Toole (left) with Nasir Ahmad (right) after Nasir returned from his six-month deployment in Iraq.

Nasir, who returned from a six-month Iraq deployment earlier this year, has continued the Red Cross mission here in Northern Ohio. Nasir stressed the need for flexibility of adjusting to changes, something he and other military families know well. Nasir said, “When coming back, there are a lot of changes, personally and professionally. You can’t pick up where you left off and not expect things to be different. You have to roll with it, be resilient, and fit back into life, both you and your family. Within a month or so, I was back in a new groove, and I think my military experience helped with that.” 

In Bagdad, Nasir and other members of his Red Cross team mainly assisted deployed service members, many of whom were in their early 20s, experiencing their first or second deployment, which reminded Nasir of his experiences as a young service member. Others were at a different stage, sometimes winding down their time in the military. Nasir and his team were there for them, whether they needed a Red Cross service or someone to listen.  

“There’s no rank with Red Cross,” Nasir said, “So they can talk more freely. Conversations often go from funny to somber and serious then back to silliness. When it comes to melancholy, they need support. It is wonderful being one of those to make sure they’re okay.” Nasir also said deployments can be especially challenging during the holidays, and everyone responds differently. 

“Making sure they’re okay” is an important part of Nasir’s work back home in Northern Ohio, too. “We’re helping people in a different capacity,” Nasir said, “but it’s still very much needed.” Services include Coffee Cart programs near VA hospitals and centers, Family Days, and Yellow Ribbon programs, among others. 

This flexibility, humanity, and responsiveness are key to the Red Cross. I asked Nasir what issues are currently most pressing for SAF. A major one is helping ensure military members and their families maintain access to food and necessary services.  

International Services is another aspect of Nasir’s role in the Red Cross, which includes the Restoring Family Links program. This service is open to all families who are separated internationally by war, disaster, migration, and other humanitarian crises. With the number of conflicts and crises throughout the world, and the toll they are taking on families, it is desperately needed, and Nasir spoke of how proud he is to help reunite families. 

Nasir will help honor Veterans Day by taking part in the parade and festivities in downtown Cleveland. He and other Red Cross members will be at a table at Tower City. Stop by and say hello. 

Hiring military veterans works for the Red Cross

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By Jim McIntyre, American Red Cross volunteer

“A shared commitment to a greater purpose may just be the most significant advantage veterans bring to the American Red Cross…” – Mike Parks, RADM, USCG (Retired), Regional CEO, American Red Cross of Northern Ohio. 

There were nearly 16 million veterans of the armed forces living in the U.S. in 2023, according to usafacts.org. Nearly 3% were unemployed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. To raise awareness of veterans in need of job placement and to show the challenges of transitioning from the military to civilian workforce, July 25th has been named National Hire a Veteran Day. 

“Veterans bring unmatched dedication, discipline, and leadership to the workplace – skills forged through service and mission-focused training,” according to Dr. Alaina Foster, Regional Program Director for Service to the Armed Forces and International Services at the Red Cross of Northern Ohio. “Hiring a veteran means gaining a teammate who thrives under pressure, adapts quickly, and leads with integrity.” 

Foster is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and comes from a military family. On her team is Nasir Ahmad, also a retired Air Force veteran who recently completed an assignment for the Red Cross that took him to Iraq, where he provided Red Cross services for members of the U.S. military on a base in Baghdad.  He said being a veteran gave him a shared connection with members of the military in need of Red Cross services. 

“When people say, ‘thank you for your service,’ it’s appreciated and great to hear, but organizations like the Red Cross put those words into action by making a deliberate effort to hire veterans,” Nasir said, adding, “These organizations welcome people who know how to work on a team and put their own vision and ambitions second to the overall success of the company.  Firms that are willing to hire veterans gain people that are able to thrive in structured settings as well as adapt to free-flowing projects and events.”  

CEO Mike Parks, who calls the Red Cross “the world’s premier humanitarian organization,” said hiring veterans fits in well with the Red Cross ethos.  

Mike Parks,  Regional CEO, American Red Cross of Northern Ohio
Rear Admiral, United States Coast Guard (Retired)

“I’m fond of saying ‘The Red Cross is all about caring.’  Most successful veterans largely became successful by caring.  Sacrificial giving and servant leadership are both hallmarks of veterans who have found a home in the Red Cross after they’ve served their country in uniform.” 

Mike found a home at the Red Cross, leading the Northern Ohio Region since 2015, following a lengthy career with the U.S. Coast Guard. Nasir has called the Red Cross home since 2023. 

“I was unsure what to expect from the Red Cross, but the Northern Ohio team showed me that there’s still a place where I could serve.  And I’m grateful for it.  Maybe that’s all any of us veterans want — a place to still be of service.”    

Veterans excel in every sector of the employment market, but there are numerous job opportunities at the Red Cross, where the experience of having served in the armed forces can add extra value.  See current job opportunities here. And tap here to learn more about how the Red Cross supports military members, veterans and their families.

Military Appreciation: Air Force Veteran’s first Red Cross deployment

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By Ryan Lang, American Red Cross

For Nasir Ahmad, deployment was nothing new. As a retired member of the United States Air Force, Nasir had been on multiple deployments. But his most recent trip overseas with the American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces was new territory. Previously, Nasir was carrying out his mission as a service member. This time, he’d be providing a service to other service members along with his Red Cross team.    

Nasir Ahmad, Service to the Armed Forces

The Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) branch of the Red Cross focuses on active service members, veterans, and their families, providing various humanitarian services and resources. Nasir explains that his primary focus is on emergency communication, which looks different in Northern Ohio compared to in Iraq, where Nasir was recently deployed for six months.

“You become directly involved in the process (of emergency communication) when you’re overseas,” Nasir said. At home, in the Northern Ohio Region, most of the work Nasir and the SAF team does is over the phone, whereas in Iraq, it’s often face to face. “It’s just different when your overseas and the service member has a conversation with you,” Nasir explained.  He spoke of one example where a female service member was having a personal emergency, on the base, at 9 o’clock one night. As he and the rest of the team were settling down for the evening, there was someone who needed direct care. That is the work of SAF in action.

“When I was in the Air Force,” Nasir, who was an aircraft mechanic, said, “we had that mission, that focus, and when you go with your squadron, there’s nothing else. Now, with the Red Cross, I get to focus on the service member and assisting them and being there for them, and I’m really enjoying this mission.”

When asked whether his experience in the Air Force prepared him for deployment with the Red Cross, Nasir said it did because of his shared connection with the service members he is there to help. “But don’t feel like you have to be a service member of former service member to do this,” Nasir said. “It’s really a beautiful thing to not have that connection and still be willing to go over there and assist and be there and support our service members.”

There are all types of SAF volunteers. Many who have prior military backgrounds, others who have family members who have served, but also there are those who have no background or personal connection to the military. “I’ve seen some volunteers who deploy with no connection,” Nasir said. “That’s why I commend them so highly because at least I had my buddies with me.”

But in preparing for a deployment with the Red Cross SAF team, Nasir explains that is when relationships are built and friendships are formed, often life-long friendships. “We form our own team,” Nasir said, “and it reminded me of going with my unit.”

The team Nasir deployed with, “Team 55,” had only met online prior to their case work and other Red Cross training at Camp Atterbury, in Edinburgh, Indiana. “In the same room it was different,” Nasir said. “We had Red Crossers who had deployed before… and they were absolutely essential.” Even with his previous military experience, specifically deploying overseas, Nasir said he approached his training as a first timer. “They were so valuable to my experience. It being my first time overseas with the Red Cross… I leaned on the Red Crossers who had done this before. Those were the ones who were leading the way.”     

To hear more of Nasir’s story, click here to listen to our Be A Hero podcast. To find out more about volunteer opportunities with the Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces, click here.

Red Cross needs professionals to aid service members, veterans and their families

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By Eilene E. Guy, American Red Cross volunteer

Everyone knows (or should know!) that the American Red Cross excels at recruiting volunteers for a variety of important activities: giving blood; offering shelter, food and support for disaster victims; teaching swimming and lifesaving; responding with first aid and CPR/AED.

May 2, 2024. Lawton, Oklahoma. The American Red Cross provides comfort kits to all new recruits soon after their arrival at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. Often, Red Cross volunteers are the first faces new service members see after they take their Oath of Enlistment and the last before they say goodbye to their families prior to deployment. A Red Crosser will be there to share how the Red Cross can support military members and their families through the Hero Care Network and other programs. Photo by Scott Dalton/American Red Cross

Did you know we also recruit licensed behavioral health professionals to help members of our armed forces and their families deal with the challenges of deployment and life on the home front?

The Red Cross Resiliency Program is a suite of free activities, virtual workshops and small-group discussions that focus on skill-building and stress-management techniques. Facilitators get special training from the Red Cross on military life and culture.

Dr. Alaina Foster, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, manages Service to the Armed Forces and International Services for the Northern Ohio Region. She’s impressed with programs that build on the resiliency veterans already have.

“I recently attended a Mind/Body workshop that taught me helpful breathing techniques I can use without anyone noticing. I’m glad I was able to participate!”

The Resiliency Program focuses on three areas:

  • Coping with Deployments: A Psychological First Aid Course – Facilitator-led instruction, role play and group discussion for adult family members of service members facing upcoming deployment, current deployment and/or recent deployment.
  • Adult Reconnection Workshops – Support for service members, veterans and their families to effectively cope with the challenges related to the transitions within military life through hands- on interactive activities. Topics include stress solutions, trauma talk, emotional grit, and tools for the caregivers of wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans.
  • Child Reconnection Workshops – Providing developmentally appropriate evidenced based strategies to help military children navigate the challenges of transitions within military life.

Obviously, the quality of these programs depends on skilled facilitators. Our military members, veterans and their families deserve trained professionals.

Debra Kellar, who specializes in volunteer engagement for the Red Cross in northern Ohio, is eager to recruit more facilitators.

“Volunteers who have careers as licensed behavioral health professionals are an asset to the Red Cross workforce. Their specialized training allows us to connect with active military members and their families through workshops that are tailored to the unique experiences/culture of this audience.”

If you’re a licensed behavioral health professional who feels called to help our men and women in uniform, and their families, build reconnection and resiliency skills, please email NEOvolunteer@redcross.org or call 216-431-3328.

Edited by Glenda Bogar, Red Cross volunteer

Posted by Ryan Lang, Red Cross board member and volunteer

Mike’s message for Veterans Day 2024

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By Mike Parks
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard (Retired)
Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross, Northern Ohio Region

Friends and family of the Northern Ohio Red Cross!  Next Monday, November 11th, we will recognize Veterans Day (no apostrophe because it’s not a day that “belongs” to veterans but a day for “ honoring all veterans.”)  

Mike Parks

I was recently speaking to a group of young folks and was asked what Veterans Day means to me.  As I started to answer the question, I found myself taken back to my youth and earliest memories of the first federal holiday in November.  As a young boy, I always paid attention to the days on the calendar in our kitchen that had red numbers on them—those meant NO SCHOOL!!  As a Boy Scout, it also meant those were days when I put out our American flag in its holder on the front porch. 

As I got older, I remember going with my Dad to the local American Legion Hall (Post 92) for their special Veterans Day dinner.  As was true of many men of his generation, my Dad, a West Point graduate, Korean War veteran and Purple Heart recipient, rarely spoke of his time in the Army.  Admittedly, I was too foolish back then to really engage him and ask about his service and sacrifices for our country.  At those dinners, I got to listen to other men, wearing their iconic American Legion “garrison caps” adorned with writing and ribbons, tell stories of their exploits while wearing the cloth of our nation.  I gained meaningful insight into what I imagined my Dad experienced and developed a much greater appreciation for veterans.  How I wish I could have just one more conversation with my Dad about his time in the Army so I could also thank him for putting his life on the line so I could live the with the freedoms I so often take for granted. 

If we’re fortunate to still have family and/or friends that are veterans, I encourage us all to recognize the valor, courage, and sacrifice of these patriots, as well as their families that have given so much.  If appropriate, I urge us all to engage these veterans about their service—while they’re still with us.  In the words of former President Ronald Reagan, “Freedom is never more than a generation away from extinction.  We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream.  It must be fought for, protected, and handed on to them to do the same.”   Let us commit to always remember and honor the contributions made by our nation’s veterans, not just on November 11th, but each and every day of the year.   

Best regards…Mike

Editor’s note: Mike was recognized earlier this year by Cleveland Kindland with a Leadership Award. See photos from the event, held at Cleveland City Hall here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/redcrossneo/albums/72177720321775256

Military Veteran Moms-to-be get support from Red Cross Tiffany Circle women

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By Jill Patterson, American Red Cross Senior Regional Philanthropy Officer

The Northern Ohio Tiffany Circle Women’s leadership society recently partnered with American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces to create baby bundles to be donated at two baby showers for women veterans.  The Red Cross was invited by the Veterans Administration to partner with them at their bi-annual drive-through baby shower.  35 expecting mothers were identified by the VA as recipients of the donated items. 

The Tiffany Circle encouraged members, friends, family and Red Cross staff to help purchase baby items from our identified Amazon list.  The group met in Akron on June 6 to assemble the baby bundles and on Saturday, June 8th they volunteered at both the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center and Akron VA Clinic to distribute the gifts to the expecting mothers.  The mothers-to-be were overjoyed by the support; most were expecting their first child.

Volunteers from the American Legion and the Blue Star Moms joined the event and had donated bags filled with diapers and wipes along with backpacks filled with additional baby items.  The event is held twice a year and we look forward to helping again this fall! 

If you would like to join us in supporting this effort, please visit our Amazon link  to purchase items for the fall showers, date TBD.  Items will be delivered to the Greater Akron & the Mahoning Valley Chapter. 

Learn more about the Tiffany Circle here.

See more photos here.

To learn more about the Red Cross and our mission work, visit redcross.org/noh

Four generations dedicated to serving our country and community

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Sons follow in mom’s footsteps

By Samantha Pudelski, American Red Cross volunteer

Did you know that May is National Military Appreciation Month and that the American Red Cross has been serving the military for more than 140 years? The Red Cross works with military and veteran families through its Service to the Armed Forces program, including supporting military families during deployments and emergencies, providing home comforts and critical services on military bases and assisting veterans after their service ends.

Alaina Foster, US Air Force

At the head of the Northern Ohio Region’s Service to the Armed Forces and International Services is Regional Program Director Dr. Alaina Foster. An Air Force veteran who is part of a four-generation family of U.S. service members, she understands the importance of serving those who serve our country. Her grandfather, father and husband all served in the Army, and two of her sons followed in her footsteps to serve in the Air Force. She decided to join the Air Force after high school, serving one tour as an air traffic controller and a munitions maintenance scheduler.

Richard West, US Army Veteran and Alaina’s father

Following her service, she returned back to her home in Northeast Ohio and studied to be a state-tested nursing assistant (STNA). It was during her studies as an STNA when she had her first interaction with the Red Cross, which held some of the trainings as part of the program. After completing her STNA program she went on to earn multiple degrees, the most recent being a doctorate in education from Kansas State University.

Through her schooling, she discovered a love for higher education and paired that with her military experience to serve veterans who were using higher education to transition back to civilian life. She remembers the feeling of being unsure of where her career would take her when she completed her duty and transitioned back to civilian life, and said it was an honor for her to be able to give back to her community and fellow veterans. Last year, Alaina, was presented the opportunity to join the Red Cross of Northern Ohio as the Regional Program Director for the Service to the Armed Forces and International Services.

Jacob Blade, center, with siblings Jade and Jaz

Alaina said one of her favorite aspects is working with the volunteers who are passionate about helping service members.

“They work for hours on end…the reward for them is to assist the client,” she said. “They aren’t getting any financial award or benefits other than to help another human being. That’s what the Red Cross mission is all about.”

Joshua Blade, US Air Force

There are a lot of exciting initiatives coming up that Alaina also shared. One that is near
and dear to her is the development of a workshop where she is combining her experience in higher education and what the Red Cross has to offer to support our veterans. The Service to the Armed Forces Virtual Resiliency Workshops are live, interactive virtual sessions that seek to bring together veterans to connect and learn the tools to build upon their natural resilience. Additionally, she is working with the Tiffany Circle, a community of women leaders who advance the American Red Cross mission, to host a baby shower for women veterans.

Alaina’s joy and passion for the Red Cross and serving those in the Armed Forces
shines brightly. She encourages everyone to connect with the Red Cross. “The
American Red Cross is a phenomenal organization and is here to serve anyone who
needs us.”

Posted by Ryan Lang, Red Cross board member and volunteer

Edited by Glenda Bogar, Red Cross volunteer

Wreaths Across America – honoring veterans at Toledo Memorial Park Cemetery

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By Ryan Lang, American Red Cross board member and volunteer

Photo credit Kathryn Dean, Red Cross volunteer

This past weekend, the American Red Cross of Northern Ohio assisted with the national program Wreaths Across America at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Seville and Toledo Memorial Park Cemetery and Mausoleum in Sylvania, Ohio.

The annual program remembers and honors our fallen heroes at national cemeteries across the country by placing wreaths on veteran headstones on a certain day in December. The program’s been around since 2007, about 15 years after the first wreaths were donated to honor veterans buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Not long after, others showed interest in expanding the effort throughout the country.

Red Cross volunteer Nasir laying a wreath – Photo Credit Dawn Henderson

Volunteers from the Red Cross were providing material support for the services Saturday afternoon, along with the Boy Scouts of America. The mild weather helped boost the turnout for attendees and for volunteers.

Chad Holeko, Commander with the 180th Fighter Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard was this year’s keynote speaker. He invoked President John F. Kennedy during his speech, noting that it is not the words we choose to honor our military veterans, but the actions.

Red Cross volunteers at Wreaths Across America event in Toledo – Photo Dawn Henderson

After a brief remembrance ceremony, volunteers laid roughly 7,000 wreaths on the graves of fallen servicemen and women.

The Red Cross supports members of the military, veterans and their families in a variety of ways through our Service to the Armed Forces program. Volunteers from the Northern Ohio Region have been providing support for Wreaths Across America for several years. View photos from this year’s event here.

Posted by Ryan Lang, Red Cross board member and volunteer

Mike’s 2023 Veterans Day message

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By Mike Parks, RADM, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.), CEO, American Red Cross Northern Ohio Region

Greetings, Northern Ohio Red Cross Family and Friends!  This Saturday we’ll be celebrating Veterans Day.  Prior to that, on Friday, November 10th, we will honor the United States Marine Corps’ 248th anniversary.  Thank you to all those Marines who have remained Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful) as they’ve helped keep our country safe and free for almost two and half centuries! 

Veterans Day (that’s right—no apostrophe) is celebrated on the 11th of November, although this year the federal holiday is observed on Friday the 10th of November.  Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month).  In 1938, through an act of Congress, November 11th was made a legal holiday.  There are currently 18.5 million veterans of which almost 2.5 million are women.  Texas, Florida, California, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ohio are the six states with the greatest number of veterans. 

I’m often asked what is the best thing to say to a veteran on Veterans Day? I’ve always felt the right thing to say is to thank the veteran for their service & sacrifice in defending our freedom.  I also feel it’s important to thank their families for their tremendous sacrifices in supporting their veteran over the years. 

Photo Illustration by Abby Walker/American Red Cross

One of the most admirable qualities of many of our veterans is their commitment to continued service—even after serving their country in uniform.  Several of our nation’s veterans find ways to continue to selflessly serve their communities as civil servants, first responders, teachers, and members of Veteran Service Organizations (USO, DAV, AmVets, American Legion, & NEOPAT to name just a few), as well as other non-profits.   This includes our own American Red Cross, where there are currently more than one thousand men and women who indicate they are veterans engaging in all lines of Red Cross service and representing all branches of the Armed Forces.   For these veterans, service seems to be in their DNA.  This is also true of the tens of thousands of veterans who volunteer their time, talent, and treasure supporting countless righteous causes in their communities around the country.  As a nation, we are truly blessed by so many veterans who are committed to “service beyond service.”   

Photo Illustration by Betsy Robertson/American Red Cross

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Red Cross also has a Team Member Resource Group for veterans and allies.  If you’re interested in more information about the Vets + TMRG, please reach out to VeteransPlus@redcross.org. 

I think President Ronald Reagan said it best in a 1983 radio address to the nation when he commented, “Veterans know better than anyone else the price of freedom, for they’ve suffered the scars of war. We can offer them no better tribute than to protect what they have won for us.”  Hopefully, all of us will never take for granted the freedom we’ve been afforded to us by the valor and courage of our veterans! 

Best regards…Mike