American Red Cross Month, 2002

Proclamation 7525 of March 2, 2002

American Red Cross Month, 2002

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

The American Red Cross is one of our Nation's oldest
and most renowned charitable organizations. It provides
help, hope, and healing when disasters or other crises
strike countries, communities, or families around the
world.

Founded in 1881 by Clara Barton, the American Red Cross
was chartered by the Congress in 1905 to provide aid in
times of need. Each year, the Red Cross responds to
more than 67,000 disasters nationwide. These include
natural disasters, thousands of home fires, and
catastrophic emergencies--such as the brutal terrorist
attacks of September 11, 2001. The Red Cross was among
the first to respond to this unprecedented national
crisis, providing direct assistance to more than 50,000
families, shelter for thousands of displaced persons,
millions of meals for the hungry, and grief counseling
for more than 200,000 individuals affected by the
trauma. The Red Cross also provides assistance during
international emergencies. Responding to my request, it
helped create and now administers America's Fund for
Afghan Children. American children were asked to donate
one dollar to aid Afghani children, and this effort has
already provided $2.4 million in medicine and other
supplies to Afghanistan. Last year, the Red Cross
rushed immediate medical aid and other needed items to
countries devastated by natural disasters, and it
helped millions of people around the world to battle
malnutrition and life-threatening diseases and gain
access to safe drinking water.

Other Red Cross services include recruiting millions of
people annually to donate blood and thereby provide
hospitals with half of the Nation's supply of blood and
blood products. Red Cross personnel are now with our
troops who are fighting terrorism in Afghanistan. They
live alongside our soldiers in harsh conditions and
work around the clock to fulfill an historic role. They
help to keep service members and their families in
touch with each other, and offer other small comforts
to ease the strain of those who are serving the cause
of freedom.

At home, the Red Cross' courses in lifesaving skills,
first aid, CPR, and water safety, provide Americans
with information they need to help maintain safe and
healthy lives. Our communities also benefit from Red
Cross programs that provide hot meals and
transportation for the homebound, as well as housing
and job training for the homeless.

Over one million Red Cross volunteers help make our
country stronger and more compassionate by relieving
suffering and saving lives every year. The USA Freedom
Corps initiative will provide the Red Cross with even
more volunteers to help further its important mission.
As we celebrate American Red Cross Month, I call on all
our citizens to recommit to serving others in need.
Collective acts of kindness and compassion point the
way to a brighter future for our Nation and the world.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America and Honorary Chairman of the
American Red Cross, by virtue of the authority vested
in me by the Constitution and laws of the United
States, do hereby proclaim March 2002 as American Red
Cross Month.

Especially during this extraordinary time for our
country, I encourage all Americans to support this
organization's noble humanitarian mission.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
second day of March, in the year of our Lord two
thousand two, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and twenty-sixth.

(Presidential Sig.)B