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A Record of Service for the New Millennium

March 25, 1905 - D.C. Chapter was organized under the vision of Mabel Boardman

May 15, 1905 - D.C. Chapter received its Charter from the American Red Cross

1908 - D.C. Chapter organized first class in the country for first aid instruction

1911 - Junior Red Cross membership program was organized, providing training in first aid

1917 - Chapter established first canteen service (originally known as the Refreshment Corps) in the United States

1920 - Chapter provided services in a number of disasters such as the Knickerbocker Theater, a southeast Washington tornado and several floods

1951 - Cornerstone was laid for the Chapter building at 2025 E Street, N.W. President Harry Truman was the principal speaker

1953 - President Dwight Eisenhower gave the keynote address at the opening ceremony for the 2025 E Street, N.W. building on Oct. 1

1955 - D.C. Chapter celebrated its first half-century of service to Washington, D.C.

1958 - Chapter's Disaster Preparedness Plan immediately went into effect when fire swept through two apartment buildings on 14th Street in northwest D.C. leaving 49 families without shelter

1963 - Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy spoke at a recognition ceremony honoring 673 youth volunteers

1966 - D.C. Chapter provided "Ditty Bags" filled with useful items to 2,500 Vietnam servicemen

1968 - American Red Cross and the District of Columbia commended Chapter for service rendered during and following civil disorders that erupted on April 4

1969 - Volunteers provided around-the-clock canteen and first aid following the death and state funeral of former President Eisenhower

1973 - D.C. Chapter provided back-up to the Fairfax County Chapter on March 2, when several floors of a high rise apartment building under construction collapsed, and on April 1 when freakish tornadoes struck Fairfax County causing over $13 million in property damage. George M. Elsey, president of American National Red Cross, spoke at recognition ceremony on April 29, honoring 1,300 volunteers and staff

1981 - Washington metropolitan area hosted American Red Cross Centennial convention

1982 - Chapter provided assistance following Air Florida plane crash and Metro subway disasters that occurred almost simultaneously during the height of a major snowstorm on Jan. 13

1983 - D.C. Chapter initiated a nutrition program, the first such program offered by a Red Cross chapter. The Red Cross Youth Council, composed of junior and senior high school students from schools within the Chapter's jurisdiction, was established

1984 - The Cherry Blossom Chaser (Sallie Mae 10K) race was held April 15, attracting approximately 1,300 runners. The first New Year's Eve Gala, sponsored by the Young Friends of the Red Cross, raised nearly $5,500

1985 - D.C. Chapter was named a winner in the nationwide Red Cross Healthy Innovations contest for its Volunteer Patient Aide Program. Red Cross Sunday was held at the Washington Cathedral on March 17 with approximately 800 people attending

1987 - D.C. Chapter sponsored a community wide conference focusing on AIDS and the IV drug user. National Red Cross for Transplantation Services provided a $17,000 grant to Chapter, in conjunction with Howard University, to study African American organ/tissue donors.

1989 - D.C. Chapter merged with Fairfax County Chapter to form the National Capital Chapter

1991 - Marked the highest allocation of funds received from the United Way -- from nearly $3 million in the early 1990s, the United Way restructured allocation system resulting in significant loss of revenues for Chapter

1993 - National Capital Chapter transferred ownership of its 2025 E Street N.W. building to the American Red Cross national headquarters

1994 - National Capital Chapter successfully completed requirements and met all standards of excellence necessary for a Red Cross Chapter

1996 - National Capital Chapter initiated TeenVoice, a youth HIV/AIDS peer educational program to address the critical need for HIV/AIDS education within the youth population

1997 - National Capital Chapter collaborated with the local AmeriCorp National Civilian Community Corps to lay groundwork and train 120 area youth in disaster preparedness, CPR and first aid with the goal of adding more young volunteers to our Disaster Action Teams

1998 - National Capital Chapter expanded its service jurisdiction and successfully integrated with the military communities of Fort Belvoir Army Post and Walter Reed Army Medical Center

1999 - The Chapter moved to a temporary location at 2131 K Street, N.W. while the E Street building began a three-year renovation.   The Chapter is among 30 Chapters nationally to pilot the second phase of the workplace program for Automated External Defibrillators (AED)

2000 - The South Fairfax/Ft. Belvoir Service Center opened on the grounds of Ft. Belvoir, VA to provide services to the people in southern Fairfax County, VA.

2001 - The North Fairfax Service Center opened in Herndon, VA to provide services to the people of Northern Fairfax County, VA. Chapter provides services to 4 major disasters in 3 months. DC floods (Aug), Terrorist attack on Pentagon (Sept-Oct), College Park tornado (Sept), Anthrax scare (Oct)

2002 - Chapter supports disaster efforts during South Maryland tornado.