Cadets, Fraternity Members Come Together During 9/11 Memorial Blood Drive

10/10/2011
By Erin Hawkins, ASBP Blood Donor Recruiter, Fort Gordon, Ga.

Air Force ROTC Cadet William Freeman donates blood at the University of Georgia blood drive.

The aftermath of 9/11 proved that people from diverse backgrounds can overcome grief, bewilderment and anger together. People acted—united and ready to help those who had suffered loss by giving blood, volunteering or donating to relief organizations. Many others entered the military, eager and ready to defend and protect the nation. That recurring spirit was what spurred Marine Corps Capt. Brett Grayson to reach out to the Armed Services Blood Program for a 9/11 memorial blood drive at the University of Georgia.

Grayson is the chapter advisor for his college fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta, and volunteered to jointly coordinate the drive with his fraternity and the university’s Air Force ROTC. A judge advocate in the Marine Reserves, he wanted the drive at his alma mater to be an opportunity for donors to honor the past while ensuring blood is available for our deployed troops, many of whom joined the service during wartime. “I couldn’t think of a better way to do that than by doing a blood drive with the Armed Services Blood Program,” said Grayson.

On the day of the drive, one of Grayson’s Marines, Cpl. Matt Audette, was on hand to assist. In his service “Charlie” uniform, Audette served as an ambassador for the blood drive, greeting and thanking donors, while helping to recruit and educate potential donors.

Many of Phi Gamma Delta’s members—several of whom are ROTC cadets—were there to donate and volunteer as well, willing to help the blood center staff with set up, tear down and clean up, and any other tasks they could do in between.

Air Force Cadet Kristy McGee is the commander of the Arnold Air Society for Detachment 160 and the spearhead for the Air Force ROTC’s part of the drive coordination. No stranger to organizing service opportunities and events, McGee was eager to help educate the detachment, particularly the first-year cadets who were new to the annual partnership between the Air Force ROTC and the Armed Services Blood Program. She donated blood alongside her fellow cadets and cadre members, many of whom have donated every semester.

Cadet William Freeman has given four times with the Armed Services Blood Program, and plans to give blood one more time at the University of Georgia before graduating this spring and heading to pilot training. “I like to donate as much as I can,” he said. “And if I can give to my fellow airmen, soldiers, Marines and sailors—you know, helping the good guys win the fight—I’m all for that.”

At the end of a very successful day, 111 donors gave blood to help care for our troops, veterans and their families. A diverse group of donors and volunteers came together for a common goal, and though many of those who participated were younger than ten years old in September 2001, the drive was an opportunity to merge past memories with present action in a meaningful way. For service members continuing to face danger, it represented a lifeline from a grateful University of Georgia community.

To find out more about the Armed Services Blood Program or to make an appointment please visit us online: www.militaryblood.dod.mil. To interact directly with some of our staff or to get the latest news, visit us here: www.facebook.com/militaryblood.