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[American Red Cross](
A History of Service Dear {NAME},
As we take the time to reflect on the history of our country this Independence Day, Id like to share a little American Red Cross history from our archives that we think is pretty interesting, and we hope you will, too!
Since the Civil War, our founder Clara Barton made it a cornerstone of the Red Cross to be there for the American people, in the moments when they need it the most.
[Two members of the San Mateo County Red Cross Chapter proudly display their new uniforms and their shiny motor corps vehicle in a photo taken during WWI.](
Two members of the San Mateo County Red Cross Chapter proudly display their new uniforms and their shiny motor corps vehicle in a photo taken during WWI. The [Red Cross Motor Corps]( was founded for stateside service in 1918 and drove throughout World War I, transporting the sick and wounded, delivering supplies and ferrying Red Cross nurses to their posts. This group of dedicated women was 12,000 volunteers strong and drove over 3.5 million miles by the end of WWI. The service grew with the second World War, with 45,000 volunteers driving over 61 million miles by the end of 1947.
[American sculptor Anna Coleman Ladd fits a restorative mask to a soldiers face in Paris.](
American sculptor Anna Coleman Ladd fits a restorative mask to a soldiers face in Paris. In 1917, the Red Cross sponsored sculptor Anna Coleman Ladd, who created [facial restorative masks]( for soldiers who had been injured or disfigured during the war. Ladd took casts of the soldiers' faces, custom created a mask to their specifications, and allowed them to return home as whole as possible.
[A local Red Cross volunteer observes West Jefferson, NC, under snow from a blizzard in 1960, to give directions to the helicopter pilot on where to drop supplies.](
A local Red Cross volunteer observes West Jefferson, NC, under snow from a blizzard in 1960, to give directions to the helicopter pilot on where to drop supplies. Apart from wartime relief, the Red Cross has been responding to natural disasters since September of 1881, when we provided relief for those affected by a disastrous forest fire in Michigan. In 1960, a blizzard hit the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Red Cross volunteers who knew their mountains acted as [spotters aboard Army helicopters]( helping pilots navigate the snow-blanketed terrain to bring vital supplies to the communities below.
As a humanitarian organization, we are proudly guided by the seven Fundamental Principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. These principles compel us to endeavor to provide services to anyone and everyone who need them in times of emergency.
{NAME}, Im grateful I get to work every single day in service of the American people with my colleagues here at the Red Cross. But Im even more grateful for you -- [we can only do this work with the support of our volunteers, donors and friends](.
Thank you, truly, for all that you've done,
Lauri Rhinehart
VP, Humanitarian Services
American Red Cross
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