Marilyn Vineyard, “Retired but Busy”
Marilyn Vineyard’s work with the American Red Cross over 50 years has been throughout the U.S. and across the world, supporting members of the military, veterans and families, leading chapters, fundraising and serving during disasters.
Now living near Kalamazoo, Michigan, Marilyn took part in ARCAN’s 2nd Annual Virtual Summerfest in June, where she and others shared their Red Coss experiences. We caught up with her recently to hear more about her work and what she is doing now.
Memorable Red Cross Experiences – Little Boy Blue Case
Marilyn remembers the “Little Boy Blue” case when Vietnam veteran Ken Maloney came to the Grand Rapids office in 1976 to ask for assistance in finding his birth mother. Ken’s father had been killed in England while serving with the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II; his birth mother was British and the two had not married. When the father died, the mother was not in a position to support Ken, and she gave the baby up for adoption by his father’s parents. A Red Cross nurse brought the baby across the Atlantic Ocean and the case was cited in many newspapers.
For years, Ken told them, he received an unsigned card from England around his birthday. As he grew older, he increasingly wondered if the cards were from his birth mother, but he had been told his mother had died during childbirth.
When Ken told Marilyn that the Red Cross had been involved in bringing him to the United States, she investigated and found that the chapter and national headquarters both still had the case open.
Marilyn helped launch an international Red Cross case to locate Ken’s mother. “I soon heard back that the British Red Cross had confirmed Ken’s birth mother was alive and welcomed hearing from Ken,” she said. She met with Ken to share the good news, and shortly after, Ken called his mother in England and said ‘Hey Mom, it’s me.’”
The story made headlines and a local Michigan car dealer funded a trip for Ken, his wife and daughter to fly to Britain and meet his mother. They stayed in contact until the mother’s death in 1988.
“Operation New Life” in Guam
Marilyn’s career highlights also include work in Guam after the 1975 fall of Saigon and the hurried departure of more than 70,000 refugees. She was recruited by national headquarters for “Operation New Life” to serve as director of casework and communications for nine weeks on Guam.
“We had to quickly learn about some cultural values of Vietnamese, including the Buddhists’ requirement about burial of a deceased family member within 24 hours of death,” Marilyn recalls. “There was a refugee who was an art professor in Vietnam; he had managed to bring art supplies with him and painted and sold some artwork while he was on Guam. I bought one of a mother and baby reflecting what they were enduring at this time and it remains on my wall – the refugee went to New York University where he became an art professor.”
The Important Role of Volunteers
“The role of volunteers in our work will always stick with me,” Marilyn said. “In 1991, following a tornado that injured several migrant workers on a farm in a rural county in southwest Michigan, a longtime nurse volunteer went dressed in what was then a classic nurse uniform complete with red-lined navy cape over a white uniform and cap. The workers who had seemed cautious around some other volunteers promptly gravitated to her with trust and appreciation for her help.”
Life after Retirement
“I have remained a volunteer and continue to donate blood (24 gallons plus so far) and money to the Red Cross,” Marilyn said. “I remain in contact with several old Red Cross colleagues who are among my best friends.”
“I am very active with Osher Lifelong Learning as both a ‘student’ and a volunteer, and I also volunteer with a local food bank,” she said. “My favorite hobby is reading – both fiction and nonfiction. I go to a senior fitness center a couple of times a week (usually).”
Marilyn signs her emails, “Retired but busy!”
