Armed Services Blood Program celebrates National Blood Donor Month
FALLS CHURCH, Va. — The Armed Services Blood Program is Celebrating Your Legacy during National Blood Donor Month this January.
Navy Capt. Roland Fahie, ASBP director, said blood donors are the heart and soul of the military blood program’s mission to save lives. Without them, he said, the program wouldn’t be able to continually provide lifesaving blood and blood products to ill or injured service members and their families worldwide.
“This is a special time of the year for our program, Fahie said. “It’s an honor for us to recognize the thousands of men and women who roll up their sleeves every year to ensure that our warfighters have the blood they need, when they need it the most. Their simple act of donating blood can be the difference between life and death for many of our service members, in peacetime or war.”
Since 1962, the Armed Services Blood Program has served as the sole provider of blood for the United States military. As a tri-service organization, the ASBP collects, processes, stores and distributes blood and blood products to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and their families worldwide. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Tenley Long)
Each year, the ASBP celebrates National Blood Donor Month to thank donors for their selfless donations. The program is responsible for providing blood and blood products to deployed service members in the heart of the battlefield; but while ASBP blood recipients are most often thought of as deployed service members injured in the line of duty, the ASBP also provides blood for service members and their families back home and in military treatment facilities around the globe.
“Additionally, our recipient base extends beyond the military community,” Fahie said. “In cases of natural disasters or other catastrophes, we are called upon to serve civilians in need, not only here at home but globally as part of humanitarian missions.”
According to Army Col. Audra Taylor, director of the Army Blood Program, it is important to remember that the need for blood is constant – at all times of the year.
“Our donors allow us to ensure that Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and their families have the blood they need without interruption,” she said. “On behalf of the entire Army Blood Program, thank you for your commitment to the ASBP’s mission.”
Many of the ASBP’s donor centers will hold special ceremonies this month to thank the men and women who have worked hard to ensure blood and blood products are readily available for military families year-round. You can celebrate by donating blood. To make an appointment, please visit the Military Blood Donor Website.
“We rely on our donors – military and civilian alike – to save lives,” said Navy Cmdr. Jonathan Hoiles, director of the Navy Blood Program. “Our service members on the battlefield or here at home often depend on the selflessness of strangers to get the blood and blood products they need. It’s a remarkable thing blood donors do, and we thank them.”
“We have saved thousands of lives this year, and that happened because we had so many dedicated donors worldwide,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Kathryn Shaw, director of the Air Force Blood Program. “All of the great things we accomplished in 2016 would not have been possible without the support from our donors. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
ASBP is eager to see what 2017 will bring.
“It’s hard to say exactly what will happen in 2017, but one thing we know we can count on is the unwavering support from our donors,” Fahie said. “I extend my personal thanks to all of the donors who passed on their legacies from generation to generation in 2016. The time you took to roll up your sleeves and donate blood is priceless to so many. Thank you.”
Disclaimer: Re-published content may have been edited for length and clarity. Read original post.
.png)
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario