388th Supports American Red Cross Blood Drive 15 April 2020

Wednesday morning, the Top Dog Squadron members rallied to support the American Red Cross with an emergency blood drive at our squadron.

Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers came with his wife Sandy, who donated blood. We are his home squadron and we greatly appreciate his support by visiting and for all his efforts to provide for and connect the Glendale community during this time.

Tremendous thanks to the 22 staff members, including 11 cadets and 3 Wing staff, who helped make it the success that it was.

It was an urgent/short notice call for a donation site and was possible because of the mission readiness our staff had prepared, for alerting and standing by. Glendale Municipal Airport was swift to approve and support our request. MSgt George Risinger, our DCC, worked tirelessly from the moment we got a green light, just five days before, to both reach out to our cadets and their parents and to prepare our facility to ARC’s specifications. Capt Ben Conlin, our DCS, alerted all officers to the mission and invited them to support and we had every area covered. Lt Col Roger Yaeger was instrumental to mission communications, logging, and reporting.

Lt Col Bob Ditch and Lt Col Paul Rehman were high level organizers who made sure we could focus on the tactical preparations. Thanks to Capt Margot Myers, PIO, and Capt Gordon Helm, government relations, for their work in community publicity. All donation appointments were full 12 hours after the Red Cross posted it!

Members were safe, separated, and sanitized for the 11-7 operation - thanks to Lt Col Corey Stohlquist for monitoring as the mission Safety Officer.