How The Columbus Dispatch Became Involved

Since its inception in 1951, the Armed Services Blood Program operated under the concept of the military (and only the military) taking care of their own. Veterans and patriotic Americans though, found this restriction uniquely discriminating, especially when it was revealed that the Armed Services often during times of conflict had to purchase blood products from civilian blood collection agencies, and at ongoing market costs (which are strangely classified) of several hundred dollars per pint.

In reaction to this, in May of 2007, Hank Bobulski and Carol Pagnanelli organized a "Patriotic Picnic," an unprecedented ASBP blood drive that was actually conducted off federal property at Ohio State University (See "The First Ohio Public Blood Drive"). In this event, the public was allowed to donate to the military in an inspiring picnic setting. Reaction from authorities though was swift, and controversy ensued. That summer, because of the issue that had been raised, two daring Columbus Dispatch newspaper reporters, Ann Fisher, and Jodi Andes, began to question why the Department of Defense would not allow civilians to donate for its military blood network, the Armed Services Blood Program.

In late August, another such blood drive was held in Chillicothe, Ohio at the Ohio University branch.  A ‘special circumstances’ blood drive, it took place during the Aaron Reed Memorial Event. Aaron Reed had been a young Marine, part of Ohio’s famed Lima Company (Reserve 3rd Batt., 25th Marine Reg., 4th Marine Division). He was killed on August 3rd 2005 when his amphibious assault vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device during combat operations south of Haditha, Iraq. His grieving mother, Sara Duvall, subsequently set up a scholarship fund in his memory, funded by a yearly memorial held on his birthday in late August. The Department of Defense sympathetically gave Sara and the ASBP in an unprecedented move permission to hold an ASBP blood drive at the local Ohio University campus.

They have had one for this event every year since then.

Because of these events and the probing articles of the Columbus Dispatch, the Department of Defense finally changed their policy in September, 2007. Henceforth, they would allow members of the public to donate to the ASBP in time of war.

Below are some articles that helped coerce the Federal governement to (in an rare move) to finally change its 55-year old policy.

Columbus Dispatch: 23 July, 2007

Columbus Dispatch: 12 August, 2007

Columbus Dispatch: 11 September, 2007

Columbus Dispatch: October 27, 2007

Ms. Jodi Andes, donating blood for the troops. Since 2007, she has become a true supporter of the American Legion-sponsored ASBP blood drives in Columbus, and even today she champions every one of our blood drives. A wonderful lady.

At the March 21st, 2010 blood drive, Ms. Andes was surprised when she was given a certificate of honor by The American Legion for her work (See March 21, 2010 photos).

Ms. Andes is now a member of the steering committee for these bimonthly blood drives.

In the meantime, the war goes on...