Woman's enterprise. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1921-19??, 1921-07-22
Our Red Cross
by Ella Graham.)

army, and chartered before the mo- :,
morable declaration of war April 9TH,
1917 that brought US at once into the
clash of arms of more than half the
civilized world, has a history second 9
to none in the South and paralleling
any of it's size in the whole land.
Its history is one Of which Baton
Rougeans may we'll be proud as it
reflects the achievements of thousands
of our earnest, eager citizens, both
men and woman, in meeting every
conceivable call Of our country while
under arms and unfolding the morals
Of not only our fighting men but their
families as we'll. When the world war
was thing of the past and our men
came from out the camps and from
across the sea the Red Cross still
Carried on"
Thousands of men have passed
through the door of the local chap
ter, many sick and disabled, others
out of employment, and an untold
number that needed assistance in I'M
raveling some of the complex situa-
lions that came out of their period in
the service.
To browse through old records
brings such a thrill that one hears
again the tramp of marching feet and
sees long lines Of khaki and blue
These old records also tell OF the glad
free work, the rush to service under
the flag of the crimson cross OF we'll
nigh half our people that were doomed
to remain behind when our men were
called to the colors.
For that memorable November OF
1918 the Canteen report says very
simply "Served 1861 men, served 81
wounded men from overseas" what
task was performed month after
month, of which this is only a
glimpse, only the more than two hun
dred blue and white CARRIED ladies can
tell, but it was done so efficiently that
the fame of the Baton Rouge canteen
spread from coast to coast.
In August of the same year when
the heat might have daunted less cour,
apeous hearts we read in the report
Of the month Surgical dressings de-
partment 2O,975 dressings made, sew
ing department $40 garments made
knitting department 256 pieces knit
ted" Again we see hundreds OF white
clad women and girls with the white
soft and the crimson cross tlrelessl!
laboring throughout the day.
To meet the need for funds and t.
supply all materials needed finance
committee composed of some Of ou
ablest men and aided by an enter
tainment committee composed of eft
ficient ladies put the chapter on sucl
a strong financial basis that it's wor]
has never been overshadowed by wor
ry.
The history Of the Red Cross is
long one and the story would not b
told were not the work Of the develop
ment committee in assisting to organ
ize the entire parish through Auxi
iaries and the Branch at Zachary gi'
en- due credit for their activitle
These organizations each with the
earnest group Of workers, whether
was large or small contributed
Share of finished products that swell
the chapters famed production.
The attractive headquarters at Fac
ary and the ladies that labored the1
in did much to contribute to the cha
.er's annals Of achievement.
At different times in the period
the chapters history First Aid clas
have been gratuitiously conducted
our leading physicians and seve
hundred persons have been trained
administering in First Aid. Threr
Instruction by an expert in Life 5
ing no less than twelve men, won
and juniors are privileged to wear
life saving badge.
The Junior Red Cross both dur
the early days of the chapter and
day has an enrolment Of thousa
Of children in the parochial schools
we'll as the public schools Of the
ish. It is to these Juniors that
look for the Red Cross Of the tut
While other departments could
mobilize with the demobilizing OF
troops the Home Service was
begisning its biggest responslb'
During the war days it was the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: ~
Z r. :,