The ICRC and other musings about the Red Cross' brand history

Yesterday, the Red Cross had an event hosted with my company to present a POW-MIA table and recognize the ongoing service of veterans and their families as well as those permenantly missing in action.  He passed me a pin which I found quite interesting:

I was curious as to their background and came across this post in a Google Image search.  Who knew?

Here are some other interesting facts about the Red Cross as a brand:

• The Red Cross is an international organization that is not affiliated with any religion nor country in partucular (though the cross is an homage to Switzerland, which is infamously neutral).  However, if you check out the blog post linked above you'll find out different symbols are used in different areas of the world due to their perceived religious nature.
• The Red Cross once charged for donuts and no one will ever forget.  (This explains so much... I need to start taking baked goods on my outings.)
• I also started reading Salt, Sugar Fat last week and learned during the same time as the Donur Scandal, Coca-Cola promised that all military personnel would be able to get Coke for a nickel, regardless of where it was.  This accounts for a good brand recognition in many regions as well as a lifelong brand dedication that is worth well more than shipping costs must have been.
• And finally, and probably most obviously, in addition to disaster relief services the Red Cross also provides veterans services (such as the Service to Armed Forces project, which is the branch I volunteer with).  So while many people may associate the Red Cross with giving blood or CPR courses, there are other ways to be involved as well.

Remembering Dr. William Livingston

A screenshot from our interview late last month

I found out earlier (via a comment on this blog, actually) that Dr. Livingston passed away early today.  I interviewed him on July 27 and had the fortune of spending almost three hours with him speaking about his experiences in the Battle of the Bulge and as an aide-de-camp in Germany.

Edit:  The most memorable part of his interview was at the end.  Mike asks me to request something special from the veterans, considering most of them are older:  he requests life lessons and words of wisdom be shared as part of this documentation.  I asked this of Dr. Livingston and, to paraphrase, he said that he prefers his experiences speak for themselves as life lessons.  That's the first time anyone has declined, and I have to admit I agree with him - he was a great storyteller and wrapped up all his experiences into neat packets.

Dr. Livingston was a wonderful orator, a delight to interview and one of the kindest souls I have had the pleasure of talking to for this project.  I am sorry to see him go, but am glad that his memory is preserved with the Veterans History Project.  I'd like to thank the Red Cross for their quick turnaround of his interview, and to thank him for letting me have the pleasure of interviewing him.  Rest in peace.