SAF – American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region

Every Step Counts When You’re a Veteran Supporting Veterans

On Friday mornings, Curt Ghylin gets many steps in during his morning volunteer shift at the VA Medical Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The steps add up to around four miles. “I feel pretty lucky,” says Curt, who is 87 years old.

He racks up the steps while he pushes patient after patient in wheelchair after wheelchair going from x-ray to lab to cardiology or other appointments. Established in 1923 for World War I veterans, the medical center is a sprawling complex on the National Register of Historic Places.

Curt has walked its halls for twenty-two years while serving as an American Red Cross volunteer supporting veterans who served in more recent armed conflicts. His role places him at the hub in Building One. Patient assignments arrive at the main entrance or on the house phone.

“Front desk, this is Curt. Can I help you?” he says when answering a call. The assignment will take around 30 minutes. At the pick-up point, “We’ve got the right guy,” he says, and takes the handles of a regular patient’s wheelchair and starts the journey.

“He’s got good legs,” says the patient when asked to describe Curt and his help for someone who’s just a couple several years older. “Good people here,” the patient adds.

You could call Curt good people or simply a veteran helping veterans. In the 1950s, he served with the North Dakota National Guard and then in the 1960s with the U.S. Air Force as a “crypto operator,” which supports information intelligence. His stations included Libya, Wyoming, Nebraska and Louisiana. After leaving the military, he became a teacher and then flourished as a computer programmer in Minnesota.

He retired in 2003, and he looked for places to volunteer. A church friend and Red Crosser recommended reaching out to the VA. He did and folks there agreed: Curt would be a great Red Cross rep. Since then, the steps haven’t stopped – from supporting people in their adult day care program to his current role as a greeter and escort, Curt has put in his miles.

“He needs a wheelchair? Big guy? Little guy?” Curt asks when the phone rings again. Curt tends to that request and returns to the desk. A man with striking white hair ambles up. “Thanks for your help this morning. Ninety-two years old. It happens fast,” he tells Curt. The two share a warm moment in a place where people make friends.

When the volunteer shift change happens, his replacement stops by and asks about Curt’s fall. A few weeks ago it landed him face down on the pavement while with his running group that’s now slowed to a stroll. He shows a photo of his broken nose. New to everyone is a scruff of beard covering his stitches and scars.

As soon as possible after the accident, he got back to his volunteer work at the VA and other community organizations in the St. Cloud area. “It’s important and there aren’t enough people doing it,” he says. “I was born to worry about somebody else.”

A bonus for Red Cross and those we serve: Curt is a regular blood donor who recently reached a 23-gallon milestone.

Story by Lynette Nyman with the American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region. To learn more about regional Service to the Armed Forces programs, please RedCross.org/MNDAKS.

“Everything Comes Full Circle”: Deb Perkins, Army Veteran and Red Cross Volunteer

One day in Buffalo, Minnesota, early in 1973, a girl named Deb Butman came home from high school with an announcement. “Hey dad, I’m going to join the army.”

Her dad, an U.S. Army Air Corps staff sergeant who served in the UK and Africa during World War II, laughed because he knew his daughter ‘did not like being told what to do’ says Deb, when reflecting on her impulse to enlist. And yet, Kenneth Butman stood by his daughter and was proud she chose to carry on the family’s legacy of military service.

Deb hoped to attend the army’s language school with a focus on Russian. Being unable to get the right security clearance, the found herself presented with other recommendations like becoming a cook. “No thanks,” she said.

Even so, that summer at the tail end of the Vietnam War, she found herself in the thick humidity surrounding Fort Anniston in Alabama. There she stood, barely 18, among a group of female soldiers of different ages and backgrounds attending bootcamp.

Julie (l), Jonetra (c) , and Deb (r), taking a break during bootcamp, ca. 1973. Submitted photo.

She made friends with Julie, another soldier. A friendship grew and soon they were chosen to call out drills, earning the nicknames ‘Putt and Butt,’ which referred to their last names. Deep bonds developed with soldiers and leaders. “You respect those people training you,” she says. “You build a kind of family, whether you mean to or not.”

Despite the challenges for women, Deb proved herself and established credibility. She went from Alabama to Texas where she trained to become a medical corpsman. “You’re smiling,” said one instructor. “I’m a happy person,” she said. “You won’t be after you spend a few days with me,” the instructor said.

One day, tragic news arrived from her first lieutenant, who approached Deb while she was standing at attention. “I don’t know how to tell you this. Your dad died,” she said simply and, with what Deb recalls, little empathy. It turned out that Deb’s dad did not survive a heart attack.

Kenneth Butman, ca. 1940s. Submitted photo.

Thankfully, and within moments of receiving the life-changing news, Deb’s first sergeant wrapped an arm around her. “We’ll get you home,” he promised and brought her to the American Red Cross office on base where a flight was arranged. She was back home the same day to be with her family in Minnesota.

Deb Perkins, circa 1973. Submited photo.

The next year, “we were in the middle of nowhere” Deb says about being at Fort Dix in New Jersey. She when to work, administering shots to deploying soldiers and tending to children in the pediatrics unit. Her patients included a young man with severe burns from a stove explosion. “You have a nice touch,” she remembers him saying through bandages and pain. “I’m glad I can help you feel better,” she replied, meaning every word.

Deb’s military service lasted three years, which was the length of commitment at the time. She received her honorable discharge under President Nixon, one of the last before he resigned.

“Things will be as they’re meant to be.”

After the army, Deb used the G.I. Bill to pay her way through school and eventually found herself back where her heart had always been – working with kids. First as a teacher and then, after earning her master’s degree, as a licensed mental health therapist.

She married Clark Perkins, also a licensed therapist. Together, they opened a small practice in Brookings, South Dakota. The work was meaningful and rewarding. And yet she found room in her life for more. She was, in fact, called to Red Cross service, especially because it was “instrumental when I was a struggling soldier.” So, in 1997, Deb took up another uniform – that of the Red Cross volunteer.

“Play is our language,” says Deb Perkins, who was in Fargo this past April to lead an ’emotional grit’ workshop for military families. Photo: Mutz Media

At first, she was a general volunteer, but her long-time connection to working with children and families led her to disaster mental health. Then, someone suggested that she would be a great fit for supporting military families and veterans through Service to the Armed Forces (SAF), a program going back to the beginning of the Red Cross.

That fit has turned out to be true and an echo of her dad’s often shared sentiment that “things will be as they’re meant to be.”

For nearly 14 years, Deb and Clark have traveled across the country, helping military families through deployments, separations, and loss. “This work is near and dear to my heart,” confesses Deb. Together, they’ve been to Michigan, Alabama, New Hampshire, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa and the Dakotas. They’ve also provided virtual support and training to service members and families in Hawaii and Japan.

Deb Perkins leading an ’emotional grit’ workshop in Fargo, ND, April 14, 2025. Photo: Mutz Media

She recalls one time at a military camp for kids. “Of course, the first day it rained, so we handed out garbage bags to keep the boys dry.” But one boy stood apart, telling everyone that he didn’t have a daddy, that he’d killed himself after Iraq. “It was profound. And it was amazing how the rest of the kids came together to support him,” she remembers.

Over the years, they’ve seen some kids multiple times – before and after deployments. “When they know us, they feel more comfortable and more willing to share,” says Deb. One boy told them, “Hey, I remember you guys!”

That familiarity matters when supporting kids and families through grief, laughter, and healing. Serving in partnership with her husband Clark helps, too. “We’ve learned to bounce off each other and it works. Play is our language,” she says. “And really, we should all play more.”

U.S. Army veteran and Red Cross volunteer Deb Perkins supports resiliency and other ’emotional grit’ workshops. Photo: Mutz Media

Today, Deb credits her military service for shaping her, helping her grow up. “I’m glad I did it,” she says. Her goal is to grow old with grace while continuing with the Red Cross. “Volunteer work helps you stay involved, connected, and giving back.”

To learn about current opportunities, pleasle visit RedCross.org/GiveTime.

New Volunteers at Military Treatment Facility continue Red Cross tradition

Referred to as the ‘clinic,’ the 5th Medical Group (5DG) on Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, offers all kinds of healthcare, including urgent care, routine wellness, internal medicine, women’s health, pediatrics and more, to around 12,000 active-duty military and their family members.

“At one time or another, they all have to be seen,” says the 5DG’s Chief Nurse and Lt. Col. Donna Eaton, who’s also a Red Cross volunteer board member based in Minot. “Some providers see 80 to 100 patients a week.”

Pictured (l to r): Red Cross volunteers Kristin Settersten and Amanda Conte; Red Cross volunteer and First Lieutentant Ashley Manzano-Latorre; 5 MDG Chief Nurse and Lt. Col. Donna Eaton; 5 MDG Nurse and Lt.Col. Jessica Scirica, Red Cross SAF Regional Manager Lorie Herbal and Red Cross Executive Director Zoe Wergeland Manstrom at the 5 Medical Group (5 MDG), Minot Air Force Base, March 19, 2025. Photo: Lynette Nyman/American Red Cross

To help provide care at the clinic, the American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region has launched a new volunteer program to the 5DG’s clinic. Three new volunteers – two of whom are licensed nurses – will help tend to patients just like regular nurses, or they will support projects, depending on their availability.

Take First Lieutenant Ashley Manzano-Latorre, an active-duty missileer who’s making time to volunteer. She helped to provide disaster relief during Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. “I like helping people,” she says. In addition to her career in the Air Force, Ashley plans to build on her education, training, and interest in healthcare.

Amanda Conte, also a new Red Cross volunteer, has a spouse who’s deployed to MAFB, which is home to the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing. She’s likely to have a role at the clinic in supporting pediatrics based on her professional nursing experience. “I want to keep up with my nursing skills and help out the military, be involved,” she says.

Support for the US military dates back to when American Red Cross founder Clara Barton tended to the ill and injured during the Civil War.

“Our Military Treatment Facility program is a continuation of that tradition,” says Lorie Herbel, Regional Manager of Service to the Armed Forces for the Red Cross in North Dakota. Two years in the making, she says, “We’re really happy to see this program come together at Minot Air Force Base. We’re thankful for everyone working together to help meet patient and clinic needs.”

Kristin Settersten
First Lieutenant Ashley Manzano-Latorre
Amanda Conte

The volunteer experience will be tailored, making it possible for them to do all kinds of things, including health promotion and prevention, says Lt. Col. and nurse Jessica Scirica. “I’ve been doing education and training for a very long time. It’s vital that we have a good relationship with the American Red Cross.”

Now that the new volunteers are through the screening, orientation and overall warm welcome, which was hosted at the base in March, the volunteers will have additional training at the clinic. With her years of experience in family medicine and women’s health, Kristin Settersten is eager for her assignment. “I always wanted to volunteer.”

For more about Red Cross services for military members, their families and veterans, click here. To learn about volunteer opportunities in the Minnesota and Dakotas Region, click here. To read more about our MTF program at Ellsworth AFB, click here.

Story and photos by Lynette Nyman/American Red Cross

See the Need, Meet the Need

The Inspiring Story of June (Ahlfs) Qualy

Growing up, I was always very close to my grandmother, June (Ahlfs) Qualy. She taught me to read by the age of three embroider by the age of seven and the importance of helping those who need the most help by 12, at which time she encouraged me to take my first Red Cross class in babysitting. While most pre-teens spent their time at the mall or playing with makeup, I was busy learning the basics of survival skills and how to properly tie a makeshift sling in case of a broken arm. By 16 I was in Red Cross lifeguarding classes and became First Aid and CPR certified via a college class at 21. June was always a beacon of light in my life, modelling what a responsible, compassionate person in our society looks like.

Sarah Qualy (left) sharing a moment with her grandmother June, Summer 1991.

It wasn’t until I joined the American Red Cross in 2022 that I started learning more about June’s time serving with the Red Cross in World War II. She had just graduated from St. Catherine University in 1945, where she was an active member of the League of Women Voters, and then entered the nursing service of the Red Cross. June was deployed to Hiroshima and Tokyo, Japan, where she witnessed firsthand the devastating aftermath of the war. Her experiences there shaped her perspective on human suffering and the power of compassion to heal.

June served with the Red Cross until she decided to marry and start a family in 1949. However, her commitment to helping others didn’t end there. She went on to have a wonderfully impactful career at Saint Mary’s in Minneapolis as a chemical dependency counselor at their inpatient rehabilitation facility. June was known to be the toughest counselor on staff, often assigned the patients who were least likely to recover. Her approach was firm but compassionate, believing in the potential for change in even the most challenging cases.

“June always said, ‘see the need, meet the need’ and that keeps me going every day.” – Sarah Qualy, June’s granddaughter

Image of cover of book, "Saint Mary Blue" by Barry H. Longyear

June’s dedication and unique methods led to an alarming success rate despite the odds. Her work was so influential that former patient Barry B. Longyear wrote a book about her in the 1980s called “Saint Mary Blue.” This book not only chronicled June’s methods but also highlighted the lasting impact she had on countless lives.

When I think about June, I think about the tenacity of what it means to be a woman in times of crisis. Much like our Red Cross matriarch, Clara Barton, June embodied the spirit of humanitarianism that requires not only compassion and philanthropy but also courage and defiance. In this spirit, I’m reminded of my favorite Clara Barton quote: “I have an almost complete disregard of precedent, and faith in the possibility of something better. It irritates me to be told how things have always been done. I defy the tyranny of precedent. I go for anything new that might improve the past.”

While my Grandma June is no longer with us, having passed away at almost 90 in 2013, I know that I carry her light within. There’s a fire inside me that I learned from her, to step up for our community in times of tribulation. To not fear the emotions of disaster, but to use them to alchemize into action. June always said, “see the need, meet the need” and that keeps me going every day. Her legacy lives on through the countless lives she touched and through those of us who continue to serve in the spirit of the Red Cross.

By Sarah Qualy, proud Red Crosser, following in her grandmother’s footsteps

As we celebrate March as both Red Cross Month and Women’s History Month, honor June’s legacy by joining the American Red Cross in our mission to alleviate human suffering—whether it’s through volunteering, donating blood, or making a financial contribution, your support can make a difference in your community and beyond. Visit RedCross.org/MNDAKS to get involved.

Discovery of his rare blood type leads Pastor Riley to join the Red Cross mission

Originally published on the American Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region blog January 17, 2025 – by Michelle Limpe (American Red Cross communications volunteer).

As the largest non-profit humanitarian international organization, the American Red Cross unites volunteers globally in a common mission of service to others — a mission that blood donor Frank Riley strongly believes in. From his time serving in the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps to serving his communities as a pastor, Frank has made it a priority to live out the Red Cross mission in every aspect of his life.

*Pastor Riley praying over a wounded service member in Afghanistan.*
*Photo courtesy of Frank Riley*

Frank has been a consistent blood donor since 2008 after learning that he has cytomegalovirus (CMV) negative blood, a rare blood type needed by premature babies and children with weakened immune systems. He was informed of his rare blood type during his first donation at a drive hosted by the Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

“I didn’t know about my blood type before,” he said. “When I got my donation card back, they said you’re CMV negative and that means my blood can help premature babies and kids who are fighting cancer. I realized that while my A+ blood was common, having CMV negative blood made me a part of less than 15% of the population.”

CMV is a very contagious, flu-like virus that can be deadly for babies and those who are immunocompromised. For babies with serious cases of CMV, some of the symptoms include premature birth, low birthweight and developmental conditions. While most adults who are infected with CMV have mild to no symptoms, they end up with CMV positive blood after their bodies develop the antibodies against the virus.

Those who have never caught CMV, like Frank, are considered to have CMV negative blood. Babies who need blood transfusions should only receive CMV negative blood, since their immune systems are not strong enough to fight the virus.

“I donated for the first time because I heard of a blood shortage at the children’s hospital,” Frank said. “Of course, I was kicking myself afterwards that I hadn’t started much earlier in my life, especially having CMV negative blood, but hey we start where we are.”

Since then, Frank has continued to donate blood wherever his life has taken him. While he was serving as a pastor of Grace Hill Church in Morgan Hill, Frank would donate blood regularly through Red Cross blood drives.

Recently, he moved to Minnesota and became the new pastor of Excelsior Covenant Church. In his new community, it is even easier for Frank to donate since the Red Cross has been running their blood drives at his church.

“As I give blood, I realize that I’m giving blood to people that I love in my community and people I haven’t met yet. It could be that today my blood is needed for somebody that I desperately care about,” Frank said. “As a Christian, which I am, there’s a reminder for me that centuries ago someone gave His blood for me. Keeping with my own Christian faith, I too have the ability to give blood for others. It doesn’t have the same impact, yet it is lifesaving.”

During his 18 years serving in the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps, Frank experienced firsthand the lifesaving potential of blood donations. He has been deployed a few times internationally serving marines and sailors.

Upon reflecting on his deployment, he recalled a particular memory in Ghanzi, Afghanistan that impacted his perception of donating blood.

“A terribly wounded service member was coming in and there was a need for blood. Throughout the operating base, the call went out over loudspeakers and everywhere for people with a certain type of blood. I watched as people ran from different parts of the base to get there ahead of the helicopter evacuation. It was desperate. It was urgent. It was in the moment. That was somebody that was coming in now,” Frank said. “I realized that while I might be more distant from it in my donations here, it is no less imminent for the family and loved ones that are hoping. The urgency is always there.”

As a non-combatant in the military, Frank’s military identification carried the Red Cross symbol on it. He highlighted that the Red Cross was very active throughout the combat area as a resource.

“There are these emotional ties. Part of that impact was coming back and continuing that partnership. In some ways, I was even carrying the symbol of the Red Cross with me wherever I went, even on my uniform, as I struggled to serve the country,” he said.

As a proud representative of the Red Cross, Frank continues to advocate to his family, friends and congregation on the importance of donating blood.

Frank affirmed his dedication to partnering with the Red Cross to continue providing blood drives at his church. He also shares images of himself donating on his social media pages as a way of encouraging others.

“It’s important, and I don’t hesitate to talk to people about it. My encouragement would be to understand this: You’re potentially about to save a life. You’re about to make a difference in ways that most people never do,” he said. “My encouragement to you is to overcome fear, to overcome anxiety, take a deep breath and try and give at least once. A lot of times, it’s that first barrier that keeps us from giving.”

According to Frank, everyone who plays a role in the blood donation process is joined by their belief and commitment to the Red Cross mission. He calls on more people to join the mission and share their gifts with those in need. “As you come to a drive, the volunteers andthe phlebotomists are there taking your blood and welcoming you warmly. You are in a room where every person is dedicated to saving other lives. How many rooms do you enter where all of you are part of that?” he said. “You might be a stranger giving blood across from me, but we’re in mission together. You might be the one checking me in and taking my blood, but we’re in mission together. Even if you’re the person offering cookies, we’re in mission together. Every person is dedicated to saving lives, and that’s a rare thing.”

Learn more about the importance and need for CMV negative blood here and make your appointment to donate blood like Frank here: redcrossblood.org.

Touching lives, caring for patients

Red Cross volunteers in South Dakota honor the tradition of providing care and comfort for injured service members

“It’s just such a wonderful feeling – it’s my privilege to help out,” says Judy Button, a Red Cross volunteer at the Military Treatment Facility (MTF) on Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City.

A retired operating room nurse and wife of an Air Force retiree, Judy jumped at the chance to help after learning about the need for volunteers at the MTF. Judy serves as pharmacy assistant.

Red Cross volunteer Judy Button serves as a pharmacy assistant at Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City, South Dakota. Photo submitted.

“I do whatever it takes to make the pharmacist’s job easier – from unpacking boxes and stocking medications to removing outdated medications – I try to free them up, so our veterans and active-duty service members don’t have to wait long for their prescriptions,” she says.

Judy’s skills and medical knowledge learned from working in an operating room carry over to the work she does in the pharmacy. “It was nothing new to me – I asked a lot of questions, but they didn’t have to do a lot of teaching.”

The American Red Cross has a long history of helping members of the military community – from its start with its founder Clara Barton and her work during the Civil War.

“From the time a service member takes their oath to navigating life as a veteran and every step in between, we’re there to help with the challenges of military service,” says Richard Felix, a regional SAF program manager for the Red Cross in South Dakota.

Lesser known is the work done at military hospitals and care facilities across the country and around the world. Our work at the Ellsworth MTF honors this long-standing tradition.

The Minnesota and Dakotas Red Cross Region currently has six hospital volunteers at the Ellsworth MTF, several serving since the start in 2017. They support a variety of departments, including pharmacy, lab, and insurance. The partnership between the Red Cross and the 28th Medical Group at Ellsworth has been great, says Felix.

“Being able to support various departments within the MTF, and ultimately serving our military community, is special. Volunteers at the MTF are unsung heroes who dedicating their time and knowledge.”

Cheryl Lemley serves as a healthcare office assistant. “I’ve got a lot of institutional knowledge,” chuckles Cheryl. No stranger to military life, Cheryl was born in Germany where her father was stationed. She grew up as an “Army brat” and is a Navy veteran herself.

She’s a newer Red Cross volunteer, starting her service in June 2023. Cheryl spends about 8 – 12 hours a month working at the Ellsworth MTF.

“It’s one of my biggest joys in life to help military members, veterans, and their families navigate the complexities of Tricare and hopefully get better outcomes on their claims.”

She enjoys being a part of the Red Cross. “The Red Cross is there to help, just like I’m helping the military community – letting them know that their sacrifices haven’t gone unnoticed and trying to make things a little easier – it’s just an awesome feeling to lessen the burden for them.”

Efforts are also underway to establish a MTF volunteer program at the Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. Once approved we’ll start recruiting volunteers.

Click here to learn more about our work supporting military members, their families and veterans. To become an SAF volunteer, click here.

Northland Embraces Purple Up! for Military Kids

University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) football players who volunteered at the first Purple Up! Northland event which held this year on Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Superior, Wisconson.

On Saturday, April 13, we were able to bring Northland military families some Purple Up! support that generally happens in the Twin Cities or other large metro areas. These events happen around the nation each April, which is the Month of the Military Child. (A little more about the background of Purple Up! events here.)

This year, there was a desire by the local military community to bring an event like this to the Northland. And we were delighted to take part. We had families come from as far away as Ely and Willow River to participate!

We had partners from a bunch of organizations and local Red Cross volunteers, including those who serve with the Minnesota Army National Guard and those who work with local community partners like Essentia Health and US Bank. And through our partnership with University of Minnesota – Duluth Athletics, we had nine football players who volunteered. The students did an amazing job interacting with the around 40 military kids and their parents.

Our football volunteers ran games outside and tasked kids identifying who built up others, who were supporting their fellow participants, hyping up their friends as well as kids they did not know. When the end of the event came and it was time to give out special prizes, the football players called kids one by one and shared what they had done to be selected – ranging from “you helped your little brother” to “you were cheering for everyone!” A big part of work like this is to make sure military families feel connected and supported by each other and the community. The UMD football players were 100% that.

Our favorite picture is the compilation above when our Regional Service to the Armed Forces Director (SAF), Jeff Kazel gave a young man the final ‘grand prize.’ After, the young man shook the hand of each and every one of the football players. It was very sweet, and we think a couple of them might have got a little ‘dusty’ from it.

P.S. Much, much thanks to Red Cross volunteer Julie M. for tracking down some great giveaway prizes and to 148th Fighter Wing Family readiness leader Suzy H. for wanting to get this going in the Northland.

Red Cross helps unite military family following explosion and home fire

“I didn’t know that emergency communications for military families in times of a disaster was something the Red Cross could help with.”

Early one morning in February, in Rapid City, South Dakota, a loud noise awakened Misti O’Connor. “Startled, I rushed outside to see what was going on and I could ‘hear’ the gas,” said Misti. A vehicle had crashed through the camper parked in her driveway, and then into her neighbor’s home, rupturing a gas line and causing the home to explode. This set the O’Connor’s garage on fire.

Aerial view of the damage at the O’Connor’s and neighbor’s houses. Submitted photo.

Misti ran back into the house to get her kids and that’s when they heard the next explosion. “It was really scary,” recalls Raenan, her 8-year-old son.

The O’Connor’s garage and camper following an explosion at their neighbor’s house. Submitted photo.

Back outside, Misti tried calling her husband, Jason, a staff sergeant deployed with the South Dakota Army National Guard on U.S. southern border. “He didn’t pick up at first because it was the middle of the night. I had to try several times.” Finally, they connected and once Misti explained what was happening, they both started making calls to see if they could get him home. Jason informed his guard command that there was an emergency at home and he needed to go.

Meanwhile, the local Red Cross disaster action team (DAT) was dispatched to respond to the fire and immediately mobilized volunteers, staff and the emergency response vehicle. On-site they provided hot chocolate to the first responders and people affected – and made sure everyone had a warm place to stay.

Extensive damage inside the O’Connor’s garage. Submitted photo.

Richard Felix, regional manager for Red Cross’s Service to the Armed Forces program in South Dakota, was part of the fire response team. Once he found out that Jason was deployed, he informed them of the Red Cross emergency communications program for military members. “Being on-scene was crucial in helping this family make a connection and getting Sgt. O’Connor home when his family needed him most,” said Richard.

“I didn’t know that emergency communications for military families in times of a disaster was something the Red Cross could help with,” said Misti. “We don’t like to accept help from others, so I was very reluctant, but I’m glad the Red Cross was there to help!”

They made the necessary arrangements through the Red Cross and Jason was on a plane headed home to be with his family by Saturday afternoon – just a day after the disaster. “The Red Cross made it so easy,” Jason said.

Having her husband home during this time was “everything” to Misti. “At first, we didn’t know the extent of the damage, but once I saw it, I realized I needed him home. I don’t think I could have done it without his help – I could have, but it would have been hard.”

“I definitely needed to come home to be with my family – to provide moral support,” said Jason who was able be at home for 10 days before returning to his deployment.

The O’Connor family spent five nights in a hotel before returning to their home. There’s still no electricity in the garage, but they’re getting close to having the work completed. “We’re just grateful things weren’t worse, and Jason was able to be home with me and the kids during such a scary and uncertain time,” said Misti.

Misti and Jason O’Connor with their children Raenan (8) and Lorelai (6). Submitted photo.

The Red Cross helps members of the military, veterans and their families prepare for, cope with, and respond to, the challenges of military service. Click here to learn more about Red Cross services for military and veteran families.

Welcome Archie!

Meet our newest (and cutest) Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) volunteer in the Minnesota and Dakotas Region. This certified Golden Retriever Therapy Dog joins owners Dan and Kathie Brusseau, and Dillion, their first therapy dog, to bring joy, positive energy and smiles to everyone they meet.

Since 2020, the Brusseau’s have been valuable members of our SAF team. You might recall first meeting Dillion in 2021 when he visited hospitalized veterans who were experiencing high levels of isolation during the pandemic.

The newly formed foursome are now spreading double the love and kindness. They visit various locations in central and western South Dakota including the Rapid City Airport, Fort Meade Veterans Affairs Clinic in Sturgis, South Dakota, and attend other military-related events across the region.

Dan, Kathie, Archie and Dillion bring joy, positive energy and smiles to everyone they meet.

“Their goal is to provide comfort and happiness to someone’s day,” says Richard Felix, Red Cross Regional Program Manager, Service to the Armed Forces. “Whether they are comforting high stressed travelers at the airport or providing a gentle interaction with a Veteran at the clinic, the Brusseau’s and their therapy dogs provide an exceptional service to our community.”

Felix adds, “These four are such a blessing and valuable part of our SAF team, spreading kindness everywhere they go!”

Across the country and around the globe, American Red Cross therapy dogs use their time and talent to serve the community in unique ways. They comfort disaster survivors who may have lost everything after a storm, veterans receiving medical care at hospitals, and military families in need of support before, during and/or after deployment.

Be sure to give Archie a Red Cross welcome!

Click here to learn more about how the Red Cross helps service members, veterans and their families.

May is Military Appreciation Month

As part of our Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) activities, we’re proud to celebrate national Military Appreciation Month with service members, veterans and their families.

The American Red Cross has a long history of serving the U.S. military going back to the Civil War. Our founder, Clara Barton, also known as, “the angel of the battlefield,” participated in 16 separate battles during the war.

This proud service to our Armed Forces continues today in our region:

In April 2022, the Minnesota and Dakotas Region assisted with 56 emergency communications requests. The Red Cross is federally chartered to handle all emergency communications to our active-duty forces.

In April, we participated in deployment events where 54 military members and their families received much needed resiliency training. The Red Cross provides much needed resiliency training to deploying units and their families.

We also follow up with family members of deployed service members. In April, for example, 240 critical community service cases were completed.

These services happen only with the outstanding efforts of our SAF volunteers. We’d like to share our profound thanks to them for their generosity of time, kindness and expertise. You’re the best!

This May, Red Cross youth volunteers delivered messages of gratitude and Girl Scout cookies at Veterans Affairs clinics in Hibbing, MN and Superior, WI and to VA homes in Silver Bay and Fergus Falls. Photo credit: Dan Williams/American Red Cross

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The Inspiring Story of June (Ahlfs) Qualy

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