[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 214 (Friday, December 29, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN HONOR OF PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY RED CROSS ON ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
                                SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BARBARA COMSTOCK

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 29, 2017

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Prince William 
County Red Cross as it celebrates 100 years of service to the people of 
Prince William County, the City of Manassas and the City of Manassas 
Park. This milestone of a very special organization in Northern 
Virginia gives me an opportunity to celebrate the International Red 
Cross and Red Crescent, as well as the Prince William Chapter's 
national organization, the American Red Cross, founded by Clara Barton 
on May 21, 1881. The American Red Cross received its first 
Congressional Charter in 1900 and to this day it has been tasked by the 
federal government with providing services to members of the U.S. Armed 
Forces and their families as well as providing disaster relief in the 
United States and around the world. Inspired by the motto ``Sleaves Up. 
Hearts Open. All In'', the American Red Cross goes wherever it is 
needed, from small house fires to multi-state natural disasters, guided 
by a policy of total impartiality as to the community or individuals to 
be served, so that all people can have clean water, safe shelter and 
hot meals--and many times, a shoulder to cry on--when this care is 
needed the most.
  The American Red Cross is the nation's largest blood collection 
organization, supplying 40 percent of the blood we use. Over the last 
century, the Prince William Chapter of the American Red Cross has 
served the people of this region with essential blood services, 
partnering with local community and faith-based organizations to obtain 
lifesaving blood donations. Literally 90 percent of the disasters the 
Red Cross responds to are home fires and to effectively respond to them 
in their community, the Prince William Chapter has maintained an on-
call volunteer Disaster Action team to support the first responders as 
well as residents who are displaced. The American Red Cross empowers 
people at the community level, providing emergency and health and 
safety training and certification classes to provide fellow Americans 
with the knowledge and skills they need for effective leadership in the 
event of an emergency. Over the long history of the Prince William 
chapter, it has offered First Aid/CPR/AED or Automated External 
Defibrillator training classes, as well as Babysitting and Childcare 
and Aquatics courses throughout the community. By authority of 
Congress, the American Red Cross has provided essential support to the 
members of our Armed Forces and their families and the Prince William 
chapter of the Red Cross has worked with military families and active 
duty members to help prepare them for deployments, provide care and 
nurturing to wounded warriors in area military hospitals, and 
Reconnection Workshops for military families to help them reestablish 
themselves as a family unit after returning from service.
  Mr. Speaker, because 90 percent of Red Cross workers are volunteers, 
I ask you and our colleagues to join me in expressing deep gratitude 
for the selfless and courageous sacrifice of the volunteers of the 
American Red Cross, who have done so much to prevent and relieve the 
suffering of others, and to congratulate the wonderful volunteers and 
employees of the Prince William Chapter, as they celebrate the 100th 
Anniversary of their extraordinary service to their community.