FORT BENNING, Ga., (Feb. 10, 2016) -- Martin Army Community Hospital and the Sullivan Memorial Blood Center honored those who have given the gift of life during the annual National Volunteer Blood Donor celebration Feb. 5 at the Benning Club.
The event featured the Lloyd Elementary School Choir, led by the choir director, Mamie Rush. The choir serenaded the guests with a melody of songs through the ages, incorporating the words blood, donor and life in the songs, which had the guests clapping and rocking to the tunes.
U.S. Army Medical Department Activity Commander Col. Marie Dominguez praised the choir and the donors and volunteers for "their generosity of giving blood and supporting their fellow Soldiers, here at home and downrange, and patients who receive blood products.
Special recognition awards were presented to honor those whose donations helped others in need.
Guest speaker Col. Andy Hilmes, Garrison commander, shared a personal story about his first time giving blood.
"As a young cadet at West Point, most had never given blood and all cadets were lined up to participate in the blood drive," Hilmes related. "After suffering ribbing and scary stories from each other, the cadets found that it was a painless process."
Since 1962, the Armed Services Blood Program has served as the sole provider of blood for the U.S. military. The ASBP collects, processes, stores and distributes blood and blood products to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and their Families worldwide. As one of four national blood collection organizations trusted to ensure the nation has a safe, potent blood supply, the ASBP works closely with civilian counterparts by sharing donors on military installations where there are no military blood collection centers and by sharing blood products in times of need to maximize availability. To find out more about the ASBP or to schedule an appointment to donate, visit www.militaryblood.dod.mil.
Units recognized:
2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry Regiment, 198th Infantry Brigade
5th Squadron, 15th Cavalry Regiment, 194th Armored Brigade
F Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment
C Company, 1st Battalion, 81st Armor Regiment
C Company, 1st Battalion, 81st Armor Regiment, 194th Armored Brigade
30th Replacement Transition Unit, 194th Armored Brigade
14th Combat Support Hospital
3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.
Social Sharing