March is designated as American Red Cross Month, and maybe this month will soon also have special significance for this organization and its role in a possible conflict with Iraq.

In fact, wartime situations have had a primary part in the creation of the International Committee of the Red Cross 140 years ago, and the American Red Cross 122 years ago. And for the Freeborn County Chapter of the American Red Cross, the start of World War I in 1917 led to its establishment as an important part of area life and service.

The concept of the Red Cross movement can be credited to Henry Dunant, a Swiss banker. He had encountered war in its most brutal aspects during a visit to north Italy in 1859. Dunant decided to form a neutral organization to care for the sick, wounded and victims of the wars and other disasters, both civilian

and military. His persistence, plus a sincere belief &uot;that all men are brothers,&uot; resulted in the Geneva Convention of 1863. From this convention evolved the Red Cross movement in Switzerland and soon in several other nations.

Because of its place or origin and Switzerland’s famous policy of neutrality, the emblem of the new organization was based on the flag of this nation. The Swiss flag is a white cross on a red background; the Red Cross emblem just reverses these symbols.

As the Red Cross was just getting started, the U.S. was deeply involved in a disastrous Civil War. And one of the people trying to help the wounded of both the Union (north) and Confederate (south) Armies in 1863 during an era of crude medical care was a former school teacher named Clara Barton. She served as a nurse and became known as the &uot;Angel of the Battlefield.&uot;

In 1869 Barton went to Switzerland to learn more about the new Red Cross activities. During the following year she served as

a volunteer front-line nurse during the Franco-Prussian War.

After her return to the U.S. in 1873, Barton tried to create interest in forming an American branch of the Red Cross movement. Her efforts resulted in President Chester A. Arthur signing a proclamation in 1881 authorizing the formation of the American Red Cross. The U.S. Senate ratified the Geneva Convention the following year. And from 1882 to 1904 Clara Barton served as the first president of the American Red Cross. She died in 1912.

During those years the new Red Cross became involved in providing relief work during the Johnstown, Pa., flood of 1889, famines in Russia and Armenia in 1891 and 1896, and the 1900 hurricane which caused 6,000 deaths in Galveston, Texas.

Just prior to the start of World War I, the Red Cross began to expand its membership and services. New chapters were being formed all over the nation. Thus, when the nation actually became involved in this war on April 6, 1917, the Red Cross was in a position to provide needed services to military personnel and casualties, plus civilian refugees in Europe. And during the following month, nearly 85 years ago, the Freeborn County Chapter was inaugurated.

The organizational meeting was held on May 23, 1917, under the chairmanship of Albert Myer. The first chapter officers were; Judge John F. D. Meighen, president; George W. Schmitz, vice president; John Ransom, secretary; and A. F. Wohlhuter, treasurer.

People of both the city and county responded positively to the new Red Cross chapter. The first public drive for membership was on June 5, 1917, as part of an Albert Lea patriotic parade and demonstration.

Within 18 months the chapter raised $139,000 to fund various programs. The area volunteers made so many dressings for hospital use that over 30,000 were left over at the end of 1918 when the war ended. Also, a total of 16 tons of clothing was collected in the county to be used for war relief purposes.

One method used to raise funds was through a series of auctions based on donated goods with the auctioneers donating their talents at no cost. What was considered to be a unique way of fund raising was the &uot;Milking Cows for the Red Cross&uot; campaign. Area dairymen arranged for a portion of their proceeds from the creameries to go to the Freeborn County Chapter.

Next: How the Red Cross provided assistance during two local influenza epidemics and two deadly tornadoes.