STATE OF MAINE
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IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE
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JOINT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING MARCH 2021 AS
AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH
WHEREAS, March 2021 is American Red Cross Month, a special time to honor the
kindness of our neighbors who help individuals and families in need every day in the State,
across the United States and around the world; and
WHEREAS, Maine citizens are local, national and global humanitarians, even in the midst
of a pandemic, carrying out the American Red Cross's 140-year mission of preventing and
alleviating human suffering; and
WHEREAS, the American Red Cross aspires to turn compassion into action, and
American Red Cross volunteers help others when there is a need; and
WHEREAS, during these trying times, Maine citizens in supporting the American Red
Cross have helped their neighbors get back on their feet after devastating home fires, assisted
communities across the country to face record-breaking hurricanes and wildfires and rolled up
their sleeves to give blood when our country faced a severe blood shortage; and
WHEREAS, thanks to the American Red Cross's statewide community of volunteers and
partners, people in the State facing a disaster can meet their basic emergency needs, including
having access to safe shelter, food and critical health and mental health services, for free, day
or night; and
WHEREAS, because of the American Red Cross's work, children and youths in the State
know how to prepare for and stay safe during a disaster, people have working smoke alarms
and emergency escape plans and there are always trained individuals nearby ready to use their
skills to save lives; and
WHEREAS, due to the American Red Cross's efforts and local communities hosting blood
drives and donating life-saving blood, anyone can access life-saving blood and blood products
and we have a stable blood supply that helped to extend or save the lives of more than 400,000
people last year; and
WHEREAS, military personnel, veterans and their families have access to global
emergency communication services and the support they need to cope with deployments and
reintegrating with the community because of the American Red Cross; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That We, the Members of the One Hundred and Thirtieth Legislature now
assembled in the First Regular Session, pause in our deliberations, nearly 200 years since the
birth of American Red Cross founder Clara Barton, to proclaim March 2021 as American Red
Cross Month throughout the State and encourage all citizens of the State to participate in the
humanitarian mission of the American Red Cross and advance Clara Barton's noble legacy.
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