Service to Armed Forces

Wherever members of the United States Armed Forces serve our country, the American Red Cross stands beside them, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. From our office in Petoskey, we provide a free, vital, "around the clock, around the world," Emergency Communications link between the men and women in the military and their families back home.

Tragedy can strike a family any time, day or night, and separation due to military service often makes it difficult to reach a man or woman in uniform. The Red Cross Service to Armed Forces communications system is capable of reaching family members residing in the largest and smallest American communities, as well as ships at sea, embassies and isolated units.

The responsibility for providing emergency communications between members of the military and their families was mandated by the Congress of the United States, in granting the American Red Cross its charter. In fact, the American Red Cross is the only agency recognized by the Department of Defense to verify the facts of any emergency involving members of our Armed Forces and their families. Family members, doctors, and even members of the clergy will be referred to their local Red Cross chapter, if they call a military command about an emergency.

Although Red Cross is mandated by its Congressional Charter to provide Service to Armed Forces, the Red Cross is not a government agency, and the chapter receives no government funding to support the program.

In addition to emergency communication we may be able to provide financial assistance and counseling to members of the military and their families when a crisis arises.

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