On September 14, the U.S. Embassy will mark the U.S. National Day of Service and Remembrance by hosting a blood and food donation event in collaboration with the Red Cross of the City of Skopje and the Institute of Transfusion Medicine.
Blood donors will be welcomed at the U.S. Embassy from 09:00 until 16:00. Ambassador Jess Baily will make remarks at 14:00 and will be joined by the Secretary of the Red Cross Sait Saiti and the Director of the Institute of Transfusion Medicine Emilija Velkova.
Through serving the community donors will help the Red Cross replenish blood supplies and provide needy families with food and other necessities for the winter months ahead. The need for such donations is particularly great as Red Cross resources were reduced following their assistance to victims of the recent floods in Skopje and Tetovo.
The National Day of Service and Remembrance began in 2002 as a forward-looking way, through charitable service, to honor the 9/11 victims, survivors, and those who stepped forward in response to the attacks. In 2009, the U.S. Congress designated September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance under bipartisan federal law.
Note to the media: journalists that wish to cover the event should register with the Embassy Public Affairs Office (e-mail: cilimann@state.gov; vrenezizj@state.gov or telephone 310 2000 extension 2144, or 2402) no later than 16:00 on September 13. Media are kindly asked to be at the Side Entrance of the Embassy, no later than 1330 on September 14.
