The Eastern Shore of Virginia Chapter American Red Cross

On June 1st, 1917, a meeting was held in the town hall, Onancock, to formulate plans for the organization of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Chapter American Red Cross.

The following officers were elected:

Chairman, Mrs. J. S. Waples

Vice-Chairman, Mrs. J. S. Tyler

Secretary, Mrs. J. P. L. Hopkins

Treasurer, G. H. Powell.

Executive Committee -- Mrs. W. H. Parker, Mrs. J. S. Mills, Mrs. E. D. F. Custis, Mrs. M. M. White, Mrs. George Borum, Mrs. Bessie Hopkins, Mrs. J. W. Robertson, Misses Frances and Constance Taylor and J. L. Parker.

Soon the different towns on the Shore began to enroll, as branches, and by November, the number had reached twenty-one nearly every town in the county being represented. The total enrollment for the chapter and branches was 3820.

As new phases of the work developed, the following committees were appointed:

Publicity -- Miss Frances L. Taylor.

School Committee -- Miss Constance S. Taylor, Chairman, Miss Frances L. Taylor, Treasurer.

Home Service -- Dr. J. W. Robertson, Chairman, May 1918-Oct. 1918.

Mr. R. T. Hearn, Oct. 1918 to the present.

War Drive -- Stewart K. Powell, Chairman; J. S. Waples, Treasurer.

Christmas Roll Call -- Rev. F. A. Ridout, Chairman; Warner Ames, Vice-Chairman.

In June 1918, Mrs. Taylor declined re-election as vice-chairman and Mrs. J. S. Mills was selected. Both of these ladies entered heart and soul into the work, as is proven by the large amount of work accomplished. Valuable work has been done by Dr. John W. Robertson and Mr. H. R. Hearn in the Home Service Section. Over a thousand hearts have been brightened by the self sacrificing efforts of the above named gentlemen.

Accomac was one of the first counties in the Potomac Division to organize a Junior Red Cross. Thirty-three of the forty schools in the county organized auxiliaries, the membership being 3300. Two thousand dollars was contributed to the Child Welfare Fund, many refugee garments were made also comfort-kits, scrap books, shot bags, etc.

Miss Constance Taylor was chosen out of fifteen, from the Potomac Division, to consider plans for the peace program. She was very proud when the announcement was made that the Accomac Juniors had raised more money, per school population, than any other county in the Division. The principal work of the Juniors, during the session of 1919-20, was sending goodies to the shell-shocked patients in the Hampton hospital.

That the Accomac people were alive to their duty, both to the soldiers and suffering humanity, is manifest, for $25,000 was raised by the Chapter and its branches. The people of Accomac and Northampton counties gave $2500. to buy an ambulance to be used in France.

Below is given some of the articles made, by the Accomac county Red Cross, in large numbers:

SURGICAL DRESSINGS:

HOSPITAL GARMENTS AND SUPPLIES:

KNITTED ARTICLES:

MISCELLANEOUS.

1 cot with full equipment was sent to Camp Lee.

FRANCES L. TAYLOR, Publicity Committee Chairman.