Red Cross to hold Resource Fair and BBQ for Military Members and Families

ENDICOTT, NY (July 26, 2023) – After a three-year pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the American Red Cross of Western New York is resuming its annual Military and Veteran Resource Barbeque. The event, scheduled for Saturday, August 12 at Eldridge Park in Elmira, is hosted by the Red Cross Southern Tier Chapter Service to the Armed Forces committee, with food graciously donated and prepared by the Elmira Elks Lodge #62. The event starts at 11:00 a.m., with the program starting at 12:00 noon, and is free for all active and veteran military members and their families and friends. Service providers will be present to share information on community resources available to active and retired military and their families.

For more than 140 years, the American Red Cross has provided critical assistance to military families – beginning with our founder, Clara Barton, on Civil War battlefields - and has deployed alongside the U.S. Military for every conflict since. The American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) Program helps members of the military, veterans and their families prepare for, cope with, and respond to, the challenges of military service and continues to serve U.S. veterans after their service ends. Each year, the Red Cross provides nearly 550,000 services to service members, veterans and their families, including 24/7 global emergency communication, in-person support for troops on all military installations in the U.S. and on more than 35 overseas installations including the Far East, Middle East and Europe and other support in military and veteran health care facilities across the country and around the world.

The Keynote Speaker for the event is Master Sergeant (Ret.) Brian Eisch, a native of Wisconsin, He joined the Army in 1992 as an infantryman and served in various duty positions over his 20-year career including Scout, Senior Scout, Radio Operator, Army Instructor, and Drill Sergeant. Brian attended Airborne, Air Assault, Army Instructor Course, Ranger School, Foreign Weapons Course, and more. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star for Valor, Purple Heart, 3 Meritorious Service Medals, 5 Army commendation medals, 4 Army Achievement medals, and more. In 2010 while on a joint Raid with Afghan National Police in Kunduz Province, Afghanistan, Brian was shot three times in his legs while attempting to save a wounded Afghan policeman. Brian was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor for his actions and retired in 2012 because of his wounds. Netflix released an Emmy award-winning documentary named “Father Soldier Son” about Brian Eisch and his boys.

Seating space is limited, so please RSVP by August 4 to Darla Roote at 607-454-8795 or darla.roote@redcross.org.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or follow us on Twitter at @RedCross.