Honoring Veterans, Active-Duty Service Members

Red Cross volunteers in Northern New England support the armed forces at home and abroad

By Jennifer Costa, regional communications director

This Veterans Day, the American Red Cross honors the tremendous service and sacrifice of all veterans and active-duty service members. At the Red Cross, our support for military communities isn’t just one day; it’s every day.

“Veterans exemplify courage, sacrifice, and a steadfast commitment to protecting our freedoms, and we are deeply grateful for their service,” said Stephanie Couturier, regional CEO, American Red Cross Northern New England Region. “We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Red Cross volunteers who support our military communities across Northern New England. Whether offering a comforting presence, connecting someone to vital resources, or simply listening with compassion, their service brings comfort and hope to those who have given so much.” 

From the day a service member joins the military through life as a veteran, Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) volunteers are committed to providing a continuum of care to the military community. In Northern New England, 26 SAF volunteers log nearly 4,000 hours each year supporting our military members, veterans and their families.

“It’s important to always remember those who serve. That’s why we get to live the way we live now,” said Brenda Foley, a U.S. Air Force veteran and Red Cross volunteer, noting her role now has many similarities to her military service. “My job was to make sure that the service members did not have to worry that their family was being taken care of, whether they were home or whether they were deployed.”

Through the Red Cross, military families and veterans across Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont have access to critical support through our Hero Care Network. It ensures our military communities do not have to navigate the challenges of military life alone – whether it’s delivering emergency communications between an active-duty service member and their family back home, providing financial assistance in times of hardship or connecting veterans and families to community resources, the Red Cross is there.

“If you have a loved one who’s deployed anywhere overseas on U.S. military bases, and you need to get ahold of that loved one, you don’t call the Army, the Navy or the Marines, you call the Red Cross,” said Steve Thomas, executive director, Red Cross Southern Maine Chapter. “We can deliver those emergency communications no matter where they are, even if you don’t know where they are, we can find them and make sure they know what’s going on.” 

While emergency messages are initiated through calls to our Hero Care Center, Red Crossers embedded with the military overseas and regional teams play a vital role in following up with service members and their families after a message is delivered, helping them feel safe and supported, and connecting them to any additional services. Veterans also benefit from this support, receiving local resources and programs to support their whole health. 

This seamless coordination between local and global Red Cross teams means military families and veterans in Northern New England can count on compassionate, timely, human help, anytime, anywhere. 

“A lot of our veterans face financial worry. We can help connect them to resources that can help them have a more comfortable lifestyle, because they've earned that. They've worked really hard and protected our country, and we want to make sure they are supported, like they have supported us,” said Sarah Lemnah, executive director, Red Cross Vermont Chapter.

Here’s a snapshot of SAF service delivery in 2025…

• In Maine, our SAF team partnered with the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services to provide four Homeless Veteran Stand Down events, engaging more than 200 attendees; teamed up with Honor Flight Maine to welcome four flights of veterans home from trips to Washington D.C. to see their memorials; and maintained a steady presence at the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) in Portland to support individuals as they embarked on their military service.

• In New Hampshire, our SAF team conducted several Reconnection Workshops at Camp Resilience that empowered individuals with skills and opportunities to make healthy choices and increase feelings of connection, hope and well-being. The team also delivered consistent veteran support at Manchester VA through weekly Animal Visitation Program visits, engaging approximately 80 veterans every month.

• In Vermont, our SAF team partnered with several community organizations including Military Kids Vermont, Vermont Lake Monsters Military Appreciation Night, Devil's Bowl Speedway Military Appreciation Night and Thunder Road Military Appreciation Night to raise awareness of free Red Cross services available to the military community. Additionally, the team worked with Josh’s House, in Colchester, to support about 350 veterans and their families through bi-weekly engagement sessions.

Additionally, the Red Cross maintains a global presence on more than 380 military installations and deployment sites worldwide, allowing us to provide in-person support for troops and their families. Many veterans, having received support themselves, choose to continue their legacy of service by helping others through the Red Cross. In Northern New England, 118 Red Cross volunteers are proud veterans. 

For more information or to support those who serve and continue to serve with the Red Cross, visit redcross.org/saf.