Back ST. LOUIS (Friday, November 8, 2002) — For more than a century, American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES) has provided free emergency communication services to military personnel and their families. With the current deployment of troops to places such as Afghanistan, the Red Cross is on the front lines – along with our troops – in the war on terrorism. On October 30, one hundred and sixty-seven local individuals were called into duty as National Guardsmen and Reservists. Approximately 11,000 Reservists and National Guardsmen live and work in St. Louis and Metro East communities; and these individuals can be called up for active duty or training assignments at any given time. Many of these individuals will be leaving behind families and loved ones for an unknown amount of time – some for up to two years. Military families can count on the Red Cross to provide emergency communications, act as a liaison for emergency financial assistance among military aid societies, and provide counseling, veterans’ assistance, and aid in the field where Red Cross workers serve with America’s military. Armed Forces Emergency Services are available to all members of the armed services and their families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the American Red Cross. Last year, the St. Louis Red Cross helped 2,200 military families with the following services: • Staying in touch with loved ones: The Red Cross provides emergency communications between military personal and their families 24/7/365 to inform them of death or serious illness of a family member, birth of a child or other family emergency. • Verification of emergency leave information. • Securing emergency financial assistance from various military aid societies. • Obtaining counseling, information, referrals, and other social needs. • Providing disaster relief assistance, health and safety training and volunteer opportunities for military personnel and their families. “Military life has enough challenges without worrying about how families can contact activated personnel in an emergency…especially in times of conflict,” said Nick Farruggia, Sergeant First Class, retired Army and current Red Cross AFES manager. “The American Red Cross is in St. Louis and nearly a thousand U.S. communities and at military installations worldwide. If a family needs to reach a loved one in an emergency, the American Red Cross will be there.” Anyone needing Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES) should contact the St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.286.8200. Additional information on Red Cross AFES services can also be found at www.redcrossstl.org. About the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter Founded in 1917, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter provides emergency and preparedness assistance to more than 354,000 St. Louis-area residents each year. The Red Cross depends on the efforts of 14,700 volunteers and 150 staff to provide a wide range of community support services, including disaster relief, first aid and CPR training, water safety, adult daytime professional care, services to military personnel, assistance to homeless families, and support for blood services. The Chapter provides programs and services to St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County in Missouri, as well as Monroe, St. Clair and part of Madison County in Illinois.

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