Photo By Staff Sgt. Armando Limon | The Blood Bank of Hawaii logo on the blood bank’s bus parked at the Honolulu Police...... read more read more
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WAHIAWA, Hawaii – A dozen Soldiers assigned to the 325th Brigade Support Battalion “Mustangs,” 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, generously provided blood during a donation drive at the Honolulu Police Department police station, here, Aug. 16.
Staff Sgt. Michelle Walker, assigned to Co. C, 325th BSB led the Mustang effort to team up with the Honolulu Police Department to provide blood to the Blood Bank of Hawaii.
“My goal was to support the Honolulu Police Department by helping to give blood,” Walker said. “It’s all about finding a solution and not the problem.”
The Mustangs became involved when Walker paid a visit to the Wahiawa police station to see if her battalion could work with the local police to further community relations when she met Cpl. Aaron Bernal, the public affairs officer for the Wahiawa police station.
“I spoke with Bernal with the Honolulu Police Department in creating a partnership between the 325th BSB and the Honolulu Police Department District 2,” Walker said.
District 2 is the largest Honolulu PD district, which encompasses Schofield Barracks, Wahiawa, and much of the central and northern portions of Oahu.
Bernal was more than happy to have the Mustang battalion and the local police department work together, and was quick to suggest the opportunity for the Soldiers to support the blood drive effort.
“I told her this was happening at the Wahiawa station, and at that point she said she could donate as many Soldiers as possible,” Bernal said. “I informed her we had about nine slots available that were open.”
Walker, with short notice, strived to have Soldiers in the battalion’s medical company donate blood.
“She filled my nine slots that we had left to make my 50 quota for what I needed to bring the blood drive bus up to the Wahiawa station,” he said.
Sgt. Courtney Miller, medic, Co. C, 325th BSB, was the first Soldier to step up that morning to lend an arm so the blood drive would not go in vain.
“I wanted to come out here to support the police department and give back to the community,” Miller said.
For another Charlie Company medic, Sgt. Megan Dutton, it had been years since she donated blood to a local community.
“It’s always a good thing to help other people out, like the sign on the bus says, ‘One donation can save three lives,’” Dutton said.
Dutton was proud to work with the local police department to further military, police and local relationships in the Wahiawa area.
“With the new partnership with the police department,” she said. “I think it’s going to help promote a lot of new friendships within the community.”
At the end of the day, the Honolulu PD was proud to work with the 325th BSB in making the blood drive a success.
“I thank the military for coming out and helping us in supporting our blood drive today,” Bernal said.
| Date Taken: | 08.16.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 09.06.2016 14:45 |
| Story ID: | 208907 |
| Location: | SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 70 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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