Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-19

From a flowing red chiffon,
white banded veil to the cur
rent Lily Dache designed
visor caps spells out a long
record of dedicated service
as a Red Cross volunteer.
But Mrs. Reiff H. Hannum,
who this week was appointed
chairman of the District Of
Columbia Red Cross Chap
ter's Gray Lady Service, has
kept apace with the chang
ing needs as well as the
switch In uniforms.
Blue-eyed, fair Mrs. Han
mum donned the red chiffon
veil of the production and
supply service when she
started out as a volunteer at
West Point during World
War I. Her husband was a
first lieutenant, doing a tour
of duty as French instructor
at the United States Mill
tary Academy there.
She worked so diligently
four days a week rolling
bandages and sewing that in
a few months, she was able
to swap the red veil for a
blue one, worn exclusively by
the heads of the production
and supply units.
Mrs. Hannum recalls that
written exams were given on
how to run a workroom and
sample bandages were sent to
National Red Cross head
quarters in Washington for
approval.
After the war. Mrs. Han
mum, along with the other
Army wives at West Point
made clothes for refugees and
continued rolling bandages
for hospitalized veterans.
Z Million Diapers
A transfer of duty to war;
ious Army posts in 1921 in
terrupted her Red Cross vol
unteer days. When there was
no Red Cross Chapter at the
station, she devoted her time
wholly to young enlisted
mems wives. II must have
made 7 million diapers while
working with the Army Re-
lief Sewing Guilds" she rem
inisces, adding Il made dia-
pers and baby clothes from
Hawaii to Panama.
In 1912, Mrs. Hannum joined
the Districts Gray Lady
Service as vice chairman
During 1944-5 she worked
many hours serving as vice
chairman and acting chair
man of the Chapters blood
program.
Mrs. Hannum served as act
ing chairman of the Gray
Lady Unit of Gallinger (now
D. C. General Hospital Unit,
training the various units for
duty. At the completion of
fall training classes, she
came to the Chapters head
quarters as vice chairman OF
the Gray Lady Service for
Civilian Hospitals. serving in
that capacity until 1948.
Returns 10 Duty
After being inactive for
three years, she returned as
vice chairman in charge of
the blood program and dur
ing the past year has headed
recruitment and training Of
this large volunteer service.
Upon assuming her new
post this week, Mrs. Hannum
declared that recruitment of
new Gray Ladies. especially
daytime volunteers, remains
her number one problem.
She's on the desk at chapter
headquarters each Monday to
interview all prospective new
Gray Lady volunteers and to
supervise the extensive Gray
Lady Service in the civilian
and Federal hospitals as we'll
as in municipal institutions
like d. C. Village. Mrs. Han
mum points out that not only
the D. c. Chapter but all six
Metropolitan Area chapters,
Alexandria. Arlington, Fair
fax. Prince Georges and
Montgomery County chap
tiers need and are seeking
volunteers and have person.
mel on hand to intervieC
prospective Gray Lady volun-
teerS.
Need Volunteers
Currently Mrs. Hannum
needs volunteers for a new
project at st. Elizabeth's
Hospital. For example. pa
tents on the road to recov-
cry are being taught written
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