Giving of Our Hearts to Our Troops

A young lieutenant visited FBI Headquarters and gave a stirring account of a firefight in Afghanistan that resulted in the death of his commanding officer and wounded several members of his unit. Compelled by his story, a small group of FBI employees was moved to do something to help those serving in the military and their FBI colleagues around the world. Since they were aware of the critical blood shortage faced by the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan, the employees contacted the U.S. Armed Services Blood Program to initiate a blood drive.

On March 28, 2008, the FBI will hold a blood drive at FBI Headquarters to support the U.S. Armed Services Blood Program. The blood drive, which is open to FBI employees from FBI Headquarters and the Washington field office, is the first ever held at a non-military location. The FBI’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) Zalmai Azmi will join Armed Services Blood Program Director Diviana Johnson to honor those participating in the blood drive and the men and women serving the U.S. government at home and overseas. The blood donated will be used for members of the U.S. military, their families, and other government personnel working abroad in dangerous locations such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The FBI is proud to have the opportunity to support the U.S. Armed Services Blood Program and the brave men and women supporting our nation overseas. They have shed their own blood in support of freedom and the war on terror, and we are honored to give back some of our own,” said CIO Azmi. Zalmai Azmi is a former Marine who served in Afghanistan immediately after 9/11.

The Armed Services Blood Program holds blood drives around the country and overseas. For more information, visit www.militaryblood.dod.mil.

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