September 26, 2001 Although the physical structure of the Pentagon the country's defense headquarters was damaged by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, thousands of military and civilian workers continue to carry on as normal a routine as possible. For the past two Mondays, part of the workday for many Pentagon employees has included a stop at the American Red Cross blood drive. Many workers feel that donating blood is one way to remember colleagues who died and to help those who are still recovering from injuries sustained in the attack.

There is a Red Cross blood donor center at the Pentagon, where workers can schedule appointments to give blood on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays each week throughout the year, but the Monday drives were organized to accommodate the hundreds of employees who wanted to give blood in the wake of the Sept. 11 tragedies. Carmen Augustosky, of the Department of Defense Volunteer Campaign Management office, said her staff coordinated with the Red Cross to set up the Monday blood drives. She said donor turnout has been outstanding, as it has been at blood drives throughout the United States.

Lt. Col. Dan Bolas is a regular blood donor, but said he decided to donate Monday (Sept. 24) because he knew that his donation might go toward helping other Pentagon military workers who were burned in the terrorist attack. Some burn victims require skin grafts, a surgical procedure that utilizes blood products. "There are still a lot of Pentagon workers in the Washington Hospital Burn Center and other medical facilities who need our help," said Bolas. "The military always does its blood donation duty especially in times like this."

Gina Marchi, a civilian (non-military) Pentagon employee who works in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, had similar sentiments as she snacked on cookies and juice at the canteen. She was at work the morning of Sept. 11 and felt the building shake with the impact of American Airlines Flight 77. "Giving blood is a way for me to feel like I am doing something to help the victims of this tragedy," she said. "It's nice to be able to do this in the very building that was a terrorist target it shows we are healing."

The Red Cross has held emergency blood drives at the Pentagon, site of one of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, to accomodate an overflow of donors.

Many Pentagon employees feel that donating blood is one way to honor the memory of colleagues lost in the terrorist attack.