Sunday, March 21, 2010 - Sponsor: Gahanna Post 797

On Sunday March 21st, the U.S. Army Reserve and the American Legion Ohio 12th District held their first ASBP blood drive for this year, once again at the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Whitehall. On this day, 71 people registered to donate, of which 48 qualified and donated blood.

On this day, along with the blood drive, a special award presentation was made by the Ohio 12th District to Ms. Jodi Andes, for her groundbreaking articles in The Columbus Dispatch in 2007, and her relentless support of the ASBP blood drives in Central Ohio since then.

Her citation, signed by District Commander Tom Eshelman and Central Ohio Blood Drive Coordinator Pete Margaritis, read:

This certificate of achievement is presented to:
Jodi Andes 
For Conspicuous And Extraordinary Contribution To:
The Armed Services Blood Program
Blood Drives For The Troops
During A Time Of Hostilities
Ms. Andes’ supportive and challenging 2007 articles in The Columbus Dispatch were one major reason the United States Department of Defense that year changed its 55-year-old policy, allowing civilians to donate blood to the military in time of war. Since then, she has tirelessly supported, unhesitatingly donated to, diligently participated in, and encouragingly promoted these critical, military blood drives in Central Ohio, while proactively inspiring many others to participate, and thus has helped save the lives of hundreds of men and women in the United States Armed Forces.

This Citation in very grateful recognition thereof, duly attested by
the undersigned officers of the Ohio 12th District,
this 24th day of November, in the year of our Lord, 2009. 

She was then also awarded its Medal of Merit for her diligent accomplishments and continuing support of our military blood drives. (By the way, Ms. Andes and both of her parents had just finished giving blood. Quite a family).

Pictured above are: 1st row - Ms. Andes, flanked by her proud parents; 2nd row: Roger Bock, co-president of the Marine Corps Family Support Community (MCFSC) of Columbus, and Pete Margaritis, American Legion blood drive coordinator for Central Ohio.  (At left in the background is 1st Sgt. Gregory McMillan, the reserve center station keeper and NCOIC)

Registering.

VIP visit. The ASBP drives have the support of various members of government, who sometimes drop in. Here, Jason Dominguez, Congressman Pat Tiberi's Veteran liaison, poses between Am. Legion 12th District Council's first and second vice commanders, Steve Ebersole and Pete Margaritis.

ASBP Technicians Spangler and Burgess loading equipment
to go back to WPAFB. The blood was immediately
processed and priority flown overseas to Army and
National Guard frontline surgical units.