Photo By 1st Sgt. Daryl Madrid | Victoria Raleigh, the Southeastern and Caribbean Division Service to the Armed Forces...... read more read more
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U.S. NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay and Joint Task Force Guantanamo leaders, along with regional American Red Cross leaders came out to show their appreciation to the many volunteers who have given so much of their time here, at a special dinner March 17 at the Bayview.
“The people who volunteer with the Red Cross here are exceptional people. They do a wonderful job, and they are extremely dedicated to the Guantanamo Bay community,” said Gerry Bailey, the American Red Cross station manager at GTMO. “That’s why they volunteer – because they want to give back to their community, and they want to help the community grow.”
Bailey has been involved with the Red Cross for 33 years and related quite a bit of history about the organization and Guantanamo Bay.
“The Red Cross has been in and out of Guantanamo Bay since the Spanish-American War,” Bailey said. “They returned during the first World War and again during the second World War. In 1956, we established a permanent Red Cross station here at Guantanamo Bay, and we have been here ever since.”
Many selfless service members and civilian volunteers give considerable personal time with the Red Cross here on GTMO, without looking for a pat on the back or a reward.
Petty Officer 2nd Class David Danner, from the Joint Medical Detachment, was in attendance as a volunteer after only being on the island for two months.
“I just got on island and just started volunteering,” Danner said. “I helped paint the new building to get it ready and did some of the yard work outside to help Gerry.”
In all, about 30 people were in attendance, including JTF GTMO and GTMO command staff, along with Roxanne Stevens, the Southeastern and Caribbean Division Service to the Armed Forces director, and Victoria Raleigh, the Southeastern and Caribbean Division Service to the Armed Forces chair.
Bailey mentioned there are many opportunities here on GTMO to volunteer for if you choose.
“We have volunteers working in the veterinary clinic. We will be placing individuals in administrative positions at the hospital; we route volunteers over to the thrift store, and we have a pet visitation program where we have nine or 10 dogs,” Bailey said.
And coming soon will be a new spot to go relax and enjoy good quiet company; the Red Cross will be opening a place for base personnel to come relax, much like the liberty centers on base.
“We will be opening a new respite center at our new facilities over on Rogers Road, and we will be looking for volunteers to help man it. The more volunteers I get, the later I can keep the respite center open in the evenings and on weekends,” Bailey said.
The culmination to the night’s dinner was an awards ceremony with certificates of appreciation and plaques presented to the volunteers attending.
To sign up as a Red Cross volunteer, call Gerry Bailey at 5060 or 4676, send an email to gerry.bailey@redcross.org or go online to http://www.redcross.org/ and fill out an application.
| Date Taken: | 03.17.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.16.2015 14:23 |
| Story ID: | 160201 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 100 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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