Features Editor

March is National Red Cross Month and the Pike County branch of the Red Cross will be joining chapters all across the county in this important celebration.

"Nationwide, Red Cross chapters will be saluting many unsung heroes during the month," said Jane Thrash, director of the Pike County chapter. "Our chapter will be a part of this salute as we highlight volunteers, board members, programs and services of the local American Red Cross."

Thrash said the American Red Cross began as a model of the International Red Cross movement which began through the efforts of Henry Dunant.

"His humanitarian work won him the first Nobel peace Prize in 1901 and his birthday, May 8, is celebrated as World Red Cross Day," she said. "His book, A Memory of Solferino, spoke of ideals that would become the foundation of the Red Cross movement."

Dunant called for international cooperation and equal treatment for all wounded, regardless of their nationality.

"He emphasized the need for trained volunteers and the formation of international societies prepared to provide relief during times of armed conflict," Thrash said.

The first Geneva Convention of 1864 laid the ground work for international humanitarian law which, in time, became known as the Red Cross and the organizing committee took the name of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

"The tireless efforts of Clara Barton founded the American National Red Cross in 1881," Thrash said.

Barton served as the volunteer president of the American National Red Cross until 1904. She incorporated many nursing principles in the organization and expanded its service beyond the International Red Cross movement to include disaster relief.

"March is Red Cross month and I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who serve so faithfully on the volunteer board of directors of the Pike County branch of the American Red Cross Central Alabama Chapter," she said. "They provide outstanding leadership and their services are essential to providing relief and help to the people of our county and surrounding communities as well."

Lawrence Bowden is chairman of the volunteer board of directors and Rhonda Miley is vice chairman. Board members are Johnny Gibson, Deslie Galloway, George F. Grubbs, Lew Tew, Larry Davis, Isabell Boyd, Rob Blickenstaff, Larry Penn, Jacque Chirico, Cathy Flynn, Jennifer Barner, Wanda Moultry and Shawn Maulden.