Jackson clubs make a patriotic appeal for blood

Friends and family members of military personnel, members of motorcycle groups, the Red Hat Society and Rotary Club are some of the groups Jackson American Legion Post Commander Dave Hitt has recently visited to recruit blood for soldiers now serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Hitt is involved with a two-day Army blood drive at the National Guard Armory in Jackson.

"We're hoping for 150 donors per day," Hitt said.

Twenty one Army medical lab specialists from Fort Leonard Wood and Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas will be conducting the drive. The American Legion Ladies Auxiliary and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary will serve vegetable soup and food for donors.

Hitt, who served in Vietnam and has a son currently serving in the Marines, said the military usually has only one source of blood -- other service members.

Mark Salcedo, public affairs specialist for the Army blood program at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., said that while direct solicitation for blood cannot be made to civilians, "we focus on marketing to family, retirees, military personnel, government employees."

Bob and Teresa Pain led the start of the blood drive. They attend Sedgewickville United Methodist Church, which is now sponsoring the drive with the National Guard. Bob Pain was a medical adviser in Vietnam and retired as a medical platoon sergeant. Teresa Pain is an unemployed nurse.

After talking with Salcedo at an annual retiree appreciation dinner, the couple made up their minds to pitch the idea of a blood drive at Sedgewickville United Methodist Church to their minister, Anthony Stewart, who agreed to it. The location was later changed to accommodate more donors.

"We visited the National Guard Armory in Jackson and asked if they would hold a blood drive for soldiers and they agreed to it," Teresa said. "The fact that this blood went straight to soldiers currently serving impressed me. With military vests and other forms of protection, the soldiers are not getting killed like before but maimed and injured. They need blood."

cpagano@semissourian.com

388-3648

Want to go?

What: Army Blood Drive

When: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 8 and 9

Where: National Guard Armory in Jackson, 224 W. Park St., Jackson