[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 96 (Thursday, June 14, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1294]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   WILBUR ARMSTRONG, BLOOD DONOR HERO

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CAROLYN McCARTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 14, 2007

  Mrs. McCARTHY. Madam Speaker, throughout history, many legendary 
heroes were known to provide people with a second chance at life. 
Today, ordinary heroes are giving millions of people a second chance at 
life. World Blood Donor Day is a united, global celebration for the 
voluntary, unpaid individuals who are motivated only by the knowledge 
that they are helping to improve and save lives of people they may 
never meet. Awareness of these heroes may hopefully inspire a new 
generation of blood donors. Today's dedication is jointly coordinated 
by the World Health Organization, the International Federation of Red 
Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Society of Blood 
Transfusion, and the International Federation of Blood Donor 
Organizations. This year's date has special meaning to the healthcare 
world as it is also the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, the Nobel Prize 
winner who discovered the ABO blood group system.
  This year's focus of World Blood Donor Day is the role of safe blood 
transfusions in preventing maternal deaths. A new initiative, ``Safe 
Blood for Safe Motherhood'' will be launched today by the World Health 
Organization to improve blood use in obstetric care. More than half a 
million women die every year due to severe bleeding and complications 
following childbirth; a severe shortage of safe blood is one of the 
main reasons.
  One of my constituents has taken a strong stand for safe blood 
donations. At the age of 75 and legally blind, Wilbur Armstrong has 
been donating to the New York Blood Center since 1974. He travels every 
other week by three public buses from his home, in Hempstead, roughly 
an hour and a half each way, to the Lake Success donor site. To date, 
Mr. Armstrong's donations have benefited more than 600 patients in the 
community, including chemotherapy patients, hemophiliacs and accident 
victims. Moreover, Mr. Armstrong was recently recognized by CNN as one 
of its 44 ``CNN's Heroes.'' The CNN television special was featured 
worldwide in hopes that Mr. Armstrong's selfless act would help 
motivate others to do the same. Mr. Armstrong embodies what it means to 
be a quiet hero with the words, ``I don't know who these people are 
that I'm helping, but if I'm helping somebody. And if helping to keep 
them alive, it makes me feel good.''
  While some people are busy living their own lives, others like Wilbur 
Armstrong are busy giving the gift of life. It is these heroes for whom 
the world gathers to celebrate World Blood Donor Day today. I urge all 
Americans to take note and become quiet heroes themselves.

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