Red Cross chapter kicks off events for 125th anniversary.(News)

Byline: Julia Bourque Daily Herald Staff Writer

This year marks the 125th year of service for the American Red Cross, and the Fox River chapter of the organization began celebrating Friday by honoring a volunteer and unveiling an original 1918 Red Cross poster.

Friday's event was a kick off to the Red Cross' anniversary celebration. The next event will be a reception sometime in early September at the Beehive Tavern & Grill, 3341 W. Main St. in St. Charles, said Kay Catlin, development director of the Fox River chapter.

The Harrison Fisher poster, which was one of many Red Cross posters on display Friday at the Flag Source in Batavia, is noted for its depiction of a woman and the Woodrow Wilson quote next to her that reads "I summon you in comradeship in the Red Cross."

The posters were designed to help give "visibility and raise funds" for the Red Cross, Catlin said.

There to unveil the poster was its owner, Janice Christiansen, who is also the president of Flag Source. She found the poster on the Internet after seeing a copy of it at a Jasper Sanfilippo exhibit in Barrington. Christiansen said she bought the poster because of her love for the American flag.

Lois Eygabroad, a daughter-in-law to one of the 105 founding women of the Fox River chapter and the sole surviving member of her family, was also honored Friday for her service in the Aurora chapter of the Red Cross.

"It's gratifying to be standing here," Eygabroad said as she accepted a crystal clock with the Red Cross emblem on it.

Eygabroad was a gray lady for the Aurora Red Cross during World War II. The gray ladies, Eygabroad said, would dance, play cards and chat with the soldiers and then be taken back home.

During the reception scheduled for early September, Catlin said there will be Red Cross badges, pins, posters, hats, nurse uniforms and many other Red Cross memorabilia. Community members are encouraged to bring any Red Cross memorabilia of their own, Catlin said.