VA Van Drivers
The Beulah T. Meyers Award for Distinguished Humanitarian Service was developed to honor one of our best remembered Red Cross Volunteers who projected the Red Cross image in our chapter through her extensive Red Cross work.  She had the ability to motivate others so that no job was too great or too small. This is the Washington County Chapter’s highest volunteer award and this year’s recipient is the group of people who serve as our VA Drivers and exemplify extraordinary volunteer service:  Bob Bender, Gerry Cohen, Bill Ford, Dean Hoover, Nelson Langdon, Gary Loucks, and Bill Shank.

They work as a team, putting in long days, driving back and forth to the VA Medical Center in Martinsburg, WV, transporting our veterans who need to pick up prescriptions, check in for medical procedures, veterans who perhaps  are not feeling well and need medical attention.  The Chapter provides this service 3 days a week, every week of the year. Their days start at the Chapter House at 7:30 AM and end after the return trip around 4:00 PM - depending on the traffic!

Our Veterans count on this service, many have no other means of transportation. In 2007-08 we saw an increase in the number of patients transported. This past year the trend continued and we transported over 1500 veterans. We are expecting more increases.  Just as the VA Hospital is expanding in anticipation of the increasing number of aging Vietnam veterans and our new veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, we will be considering increasing our number of travel days.  These volunteers will always meet the challenge.  Our drivers are patient, caring and often go the extra mile whenever the situation warrants.

Keeping the van in tip top shape is also part of their responsibility. Together they continue to demonstrate commitment, dependability and an incredible ability to adapt to the demands of the road!  They are steadfast and loyal to our Veterans program and to the veterans they serve.  They all believe strongly in the mission of the Red Cross and have chosen to give of themselves in order that we fulfill our mission and better serve our community.