MIAMI — On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, the American Red Cross celebrated all veterans and active-duty service members. From when they first join the military and for the rest of their lives, the Red Cross stands by service members and their families.

“Veterans help us deliver the Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) mission,” says Krista Coletti, Regional Executive of the American Red Cross South Florida Region. “They volunteer, fill leadership positions and some even choose to deploy to remote locations in Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East on six-month assignments, supporting our troops in an expeditionary capacity.”

Two veterans, Shaun Tarkington and Troy Sonnier, are currently deployed to forward operating sites in Poland and Estonia, supporting around 2,500 unaccompanied service members stationed there.

“It’s really rewarding to work with them,” said Air Force veteran Tarkington, who is on his third overseas deployment with the Red Cross. “It has been one of the most rewarding jobs in my life.”

As an expeditionary staff member, Tarkington, Sonnier and the 19 others on Red Cross ‘Team 57’ provide humanitarian support to active-duty service members, even when far from home. Their mission includes delivering verified emergency messages between family members and troops and ensuring that they are never alone.

The sites are austere and lack many of the comforts service members might find stateside. Recognizing this, Tarkington is leading the effort to build a respite center - a space designed for relaxation and community. The best part is the very service members it’s meant to support are volunteering to help build it.

“We’re building up our centers to give soldiers a place to relax,” he said. “A place to just not be sitting in their dorm rooms with all the other soldiers, and we’re giving them purpose.”

Last year, the Red Cross had over 60 staff members serving on overseas assignments for a combined total of over 8,570 in-person support days. The Red Cross South Florida Region is proud to have supported teams overseas by sending over 2,000 holiday care packages, hosting pre-deployment briefings and conducting workshops for troops before they deploy.