Seven St. Johnians were among the more than 400 local volunteers recently honored at the annual meeting of St. Thomas-St. John Chapter of the American Red Cross during a ceremony at the Palms Court Harborview Hotel.
Harry Daniel, with more than 30 years service as a volunteer, led the list of St. John residents who were honored. In addition to his volunteer service, Daniel also serves as one of our invaluable disaster instructors, according to Yvonne Zinicola, Red Cross Branch Manager.
Daniel is a retired captain of the V.I. Police Department and also served as enforcement chief for the V.I. National Park. Among his current duties, Daniel is an aide to Delegate to Congress Donna Christian Christensen.
"Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Red Cross, the world's largest volunteer service organization," according to Ms. Zinicola. The St. Thomas-St. John Branch has been operational since 1918.
Other St. John volunteers who were honored included Paula Smith, who has devoted 10 years of service, and Edna Freeman with five. St. Johnians also were honored for their unselfish service in response to Hurricane Debby: Daniel, Paula Smith, Cynthia Smith, Theodore Moorehead, Helen Francis and Carala Challenger.
"Volunteers make a difference," Ms. Zinicola said. "Volunteering time, contributing money or donating blood are all ways to make the Red Cross work."