The Paris News

At a time Paris and Lamar County can use a little good news, the Lamar County Chapter of the American Red Cross has much to share.

News travels fast, and for the past year the news about the services offered by the local Red Cross chapter has traveled as far as the Middle East in Iraq and as near as our own state and community about volunteers who work tirelessly to assist disaster victims; to teach life saving skills and in general to serve local folks whenever there is a need.

Red Cross officials took time this past week to recognize the efforts of volunteers and donors at an appreciation banquet in the Red Cross Cafe at Camp Maxey, The cafe, which is open any time there are military personnel at the National Guard training facility, is one of the chapter’s many accomplishments since executive director Brad Scott assumed the chapter’s lead position 18 months ago. When word came in early summer 2008 there would be almost 1,000 soldiers training there before deployment to Iraq, this community — facilitated by the Red Cross — made sure soldiers received the kind of warm and genuine hospitality for which Paris and Lamar County is famous.

The Paris News has received numerous letters from family members of soldiers thanking the community for taking care of their loved ones away from home. And since their deployment, Scott says letters of appreciation and mementoes from Iraq continue to arrive. In fact, Scott said if the soldiers have their way, they will return following active duty to Camp Maxey for a debriefing and acclamation period.

The chapter, in addition to offering CPR, First Aid, swimming and a whole array of on-going safety classes throughout the year, has manned disaster shelters three times during the past year — two for hurricane victims from the Texas Gulf Coast and again for the victims of the Christians In Action fire in January.

Lamar County should indeed be proud of its Red Cross chapter. And, the governmental entities, United Way, individuals, businesses and industries who give generously to finance the chapter’s efforts deserve special recognition. After all, the Lamar County Chapter of the American Red Cross is one of only four single county chapters in the entire nation.

Scott’s announcement about the chapter funding all its services during this past busy year through local contributions speaks volumes about the generosity for which Paris and Lamar County have long been famous.

Keep up the good work, Paris and Lamar County. News travels far and wide.

Share | Save | Mail | Print | Letter

Serving Northeast Texas and Southeast Oklahoma

A Southern Newspapers publication.