During World War I, President Woodrow Wilson ordered the American Red Cross to raise funds to support aid to the military and civilians affected by war as mandated by Congress. At that time, the American Red Cross set a goal of $125 million, and in less than six weeks, donations totaled nearly $146 million. This success caused the Red Cross to repeat the March drive during each remaining year of the war and to make it an occasion for annual membership and fundraising efforts ever since.

The Cayuga County Chapter and several “outposts” throughout the county were developed in 1917 following an exuberant community meeting at the Women's Union. Inspired by a representative from national headquarters, business, churches, schools and organizations jumped into the national war efforts. This included knitting hundreds of pair of socks, hats, sweaters and bandages and packing them for shipment to the front.

As the honorary chairman of the Red Cross in 1943, President Roosevelt was the first U.S. president to declare March as Red Cross Month. Every year since, the president of the United States proclaims the same message, giving the Red Cross the opportunity to promote its services and celebrate its success serving communities.

Each year, the Red Cross responds to an estimated 70,000 disasters, including house and apartment fires, hurricanes and other natural and man-caused disasters. Since July, members of the DAT (Disaster Action Team) have responded to 10 disasters that impacted 38 individuals.

The Red Cross makes every effort to save lives before tragedy strikes by helping individuals and communities learn to prepare for disasters through training. Nearly 11 million people have taken a training ranging from first aid and CPR to water safety and use of an automated external defibrillator that can save the life of victims of sudden cardiac arrest.

Over the last six months and in 111 classes, 937 local citizens have been trained.

With our partner in blood collection, the New York-Penn Blood Region, 1,801 donors at 35 drives gave 1,675 units of the gift of life. Throughout the country, the Red Cross collects, processes and distributes blood to more than 3,000 hospitals and serves as the bridge between more than 4 million generous blood donors and millions of patients who need life-saving blood.

On March 18, the chapter and Key Bank will host the ninth Annual Real Heroes Award Luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Auburn. Cayuga County native and news anchor Dan Cummings returns as the emcee.

The 2008 Real Heroes are Gillermito “Gidge” Martinez, who trained in Red Cross first aid and responded to an injured pedestrian; Tristan Morgan, a 5-year-old who saved his mother's life by calling 911; Deputy David Harkness and Deputy Timothy Axton, a trained law enforcement team that risked personal injury to save the life of a stranger; Michael Deyneka, an Auburn firefighter who led fellow firefighters to safety; Kathy Malenick, a day care provider who took action to rescue a child under her care; and special recognitions to Dr. Carl Weiss III and his staff at the Finger Lakes Weight-Loss Program of Auburn Memorial Hospital; Sandy and Charlie Mettler, dedicated members of the Chapter D.A.T. Team that responded to 11 emergency calls, which impacted 48 people; Bud Unger, on-call chair of the D.A.T., who answered more than 400 calls; the employees of the Auburn Correctional Facility, who reached and exceeded their collection goals during four consecutive blood drives; and the 729 donors of the monthly chapter drive, who donated 29 percent of the blood collected in Cayuga County.

The community is invited to attend the Real Heroes Luncheon. Reservations are requested by March 10 and can be made by mailing a check for $15 per person to the chapter at 11 State St., Auburn, or e-mailing to chapter@ccredcross.org.

For information about your local Red Cross, call 252-9596 or e-mail chapter@ccredcross.org.

Susan Marteney is executive director of the Cayuga County Chapter of the American Red Cross.