Vietnam War
Red Cross activities to support our servicemen in Vietnam began not long after the Korean War ended. The Office of Volunteers had its hands full in providing articles such as "ditty bags" for our servicemen in Vietnam, and letting them know that those at home had not forgotten them. The Atlanta Chapter opened a recreation center at the Induction Center located at the Georgia Military District Headquarters on Ponce de Leon Avenue.
The volunteers of the Atlanta Chapter "adopted" the the 36th Evacuation Hospital in Vung Tau, near Saigon. Each month the Red Cross Field Director at the hospital would send a list of things that were needed back to Atlanta. Chapter volunteers would immediately fill the order; items sent included comic books, playing cards, toiletries, birthday cards, coffee urns, and games. At Christmas time boxes full of gifts were sent for the servicemen. Once the servicemen asked for something to remind them of Atlanta. Ouida Canady, a gifted artist, painted them a landscape entitled "After the Storm." The scene was an old dilapidated farm house as was frequently seen around Atlanta.
In 1964 the Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter held a Christmas project called "Voices from Home." Local families were invited to the Service Centers to record messages for their family members in the service overseas. The Chapter supplied the tapes and often took pictures to go with them. The tapes and pictures were sent to servicemen in 25 countries and 10 ships at sea.
Atlanta Tornado
In March, 1975, a very bad tornado swept across Atlanta, killing three and injuring 225 people. The tornado started in Perry Homes in Northwest Atlanta and traveled east, through an industrial area and then through Buckhead. The tornado took the roof off the then-new Governor's Mansion.
The Red Cross opened shelters on the north and south sides of town and served more than 20,000 meals to victims. Appeals were made by radio, television and newspaper for blankets, sleeping bags, and other necessities for the tornado victims. A helicopter was used to deliver supplies to Perry Homes because all the roads to that area were blocked. Prepare for Tornados!
History 1980-1999
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