# @americanredcross on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CpS7s2mNmwL
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/4528699-americanredcross-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/cc71061792.jpg
- **Posted:** 2023-03-02T18:00:45.000+00:00

## Caption

“This woman came to me carrying this flag. She was heartbroken. It had mold all over it."

Volunteer and Air Force veteran Colleen Hylson Smith never imagined her first deployment with the American Red Cross would be life-changing. During her two week deployment, she brought comfort to families in shelters following Hurricane Ian. 

Her lifechanging moment happened when she met Isabel Guzman. Her brother, Peter, who was in the military and served in Desert Storm, died a few months before the hurricane destroyed her home. She was heartbroken to discover her brother's American flag was wet and molded from the storm. 

Knowing how special this flag is to Isabel, Colleen didn't hesitate to help her clean it. She took it into one of the shelter showers and scrubbed the mold off, letting it dry in the warm Florida sun until the mold was all gone. 
 
Once it was dry, her deployment partner at the shelter, Bert, who served in the Navy, and another shelter resident stepped in to help fold it.
 
“Bert began to fold the flag and this man, another evacuee, came over and lifted the middle of the flag so it could be folded properly,” said Colleen. “Once he and Bert got the flag folded, they both saluted. It was so touching, the whole thing.” 

Colleen volunteered to go to Florida to help those in need, to challenge herself physically, never imagining the bond she would form all thanks to the red, white and blue. 💙

If you feel inspired to help people impacted by disasters like Colleen and Bert, consider volunteering your time or making a financial donation this #RedCrossMonth.

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## Tags

redcrossmonth

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