WHO WE ARE Continued . . .
During our nation's Civil War, Clara Barton was serving with the U.S. Sanitary Commission. She came to be known as "The Angel of the Battlefield" as she rattled about the battlefields in a wagon bringing relief to the wounded on both sides. Following the war, Barton traveled to Europe and was introduced to the Red Cross idea. When she returned home, she was able to convince congress and President Arthur to ratify the Geneva (Red Cross) Treaty in 1882. The American National Red Cross was incorporated in 1893.
Gertrude Lohman and Marie Kohler are credited with founding the Sheboygan County Chapter of the Red Cross in 1916. During a Vollrath Park gathering that year, 140 people signed up for membership. The new chapter received is first charter on July 27, 1916.
Today, the Sheboygan County Chapter of the American Red Cross, is governed by a 14 member volunteer Board of Directors. The chapter employs three full-time and three part-time employees and utilizes the talents of more than 600 volunteers. Red Cross receives no government funding and operates with the help of donations and course fees.