Honoring Those Who Serve Through the American Red Cross

March is celebrated as Red Cross month. During this time, communities honor the individuals across the country who turn compassion into action, helping others in times of crisis. The Red Cross Month celebration has been an annual tradition since 1943, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the first Red Cross Month proclamation.

I was recently chatting with Paul Lamb, the American Red Cross station manager for Camp Buehring, Kuwait, about his twenty-year career with our organization. His passion, dedication, and heartfelt love for serving others was a beautiful reflection of those we aim to celebrate during Red Cross Month each March. 

Paul has been a Red Crosser since 2002. A veteran himself, Paul understands how important it is to serve our military communities, having served as a cavalry scout with the 1st Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, Texas, from 1992-1995. A large number of retired service members find their place within the Red Cross, continuing to serve communities in need after their official service to our country has ended. 

In that time, Paul has served primarily as a volunteer supporting the relief and recovery efforts in communities impacted by disasters but joined the organization in a full-time capacity in May 2019. Since then, he has deployed to Kuwait three times to lead our teams assisting deployed service members.

“My main task is to provide emergency communications between service members and their families when the need arises,” he said. “I have personally delivered over one thousand messages since I got here in November 2021.  The secondary mission is to provide morale, welfare and resilience activities, and volunteer opportunities for the service members at this location. I have over two hundred volunteers who help me.”

Around 90% of those who serve with the American Red Cross are volunteers, making them the true heart and soul of the organization. On military installations locally and abroad, these volunteers are essential in providing comfort and a sense of stability in a challenging environment.

“My work matters because the Red Cross is the link between the [service members] and their families in what is sometimes the worst day of their lives. I also have the opportunity to be an example to the young service members and let them experience how fulfilling it is to give back to their community.”

“I love the Red Cross mission to alleviate human suffering. So many people are suffering in today’s world and the way things are going, that number will continue to grow.”