Manticoran News Bureau: Give Them Blood

Cosplay For A Cause in Adelaide. (Courtesy of SMA Neil Swadling, in the back row left)

Give Them Blood

2014.04.09 CE / 346.01.23 AL (MNB) – Until we can regenerate limbs like they do in the Honorverse, hospitals around the world have a great need for blood supplies, and spacers have stepped up to contribute this vital resource for the good of their communities. Many conventions, such as Dragon*Con and MarsCon, have started blood drives to bring in people who normally wouldn’t darken the door of a donation center. In that vein (get it?), TRMN chapters and members have begun to add this vital charity to our growing list of causes.

One of those who was brought in to donate by the con circuit was Sergeant-Major of the Army Neil Swadling. In February, he joined up with Cosplay For A Cause, a bunch of Australian cosplayers who get together to perform charitable acts. “I went and gave blood at the main Red Cross Blood Center in Adelaide. Needless to say, I showed up in my RMA uniform.” Not only does it help out others, it also gets the word out about our association, and doesn’t require as intense a time commitment as other charitable events. “[I’m] keeping up my run of only donating blood in costume,” SMA Swadling smiled.

Crew of the USS Nokomis with the American Red Cross at MarsCon 2010.

Sick Berth Attendant 2/c Jane Dusek, from HMS Intrepid, is very active in organizing blood drives in Minnesota. SBA Dusek also serves on board the USS Nokomis, which has been hosting blood drives at MarsCon for nine years. Dusek convinced several members of Battle Squadron 21 to participate, “showing the upstanding nature and outstanding performance expected of our personnel in serving for the public good,” announced Rear Admiral of the Green Sir Antonio J. Lopes III, commanding officer of Second (Sphinx) Fleet.

“Oh boy, fun for tomorrow as I get to donate plasma for the first time,” Commander Melyssa Smith noted. “The needle part will sucked, but I am glad I can give something so needed.” The need for blood is very important - according to the American Red Cross, every two second someone in the US needs blood, and over 41,000 blood donations are needed every day. A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood. SBA Dusek was pleased with the results. “My sincere thanks to everyone who helped make yesterday's blood drive a success!”

Commodore Marcela Holečková donating to the cause at BloodCon 16.

For spacers, however, nothing can compare with BloodCon, a regular quarterly event sponsored by BatCruRon 39. Since 2009, Vice Admiral Jan Kotouč has been leading his command to the donation center at Thomayerova Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic. “Dorazilo 10 lidí, z toho 6 v uniformách… včetně kapitána Blancy - která tradičně dorazila jako předvoj - a tak se nechala místo toho vyseparovat na plazmu.” Admiral Kotouč proudly announced. He said at this particular BloodCon (January 2014) that ten people arrived, six of them in uniforms… including Captain Blanca - who, as per tradition arrived earlier as vanguard, and whose blood was separated for plasma.

Although we hope none of us ever earn the wound stripe for our uniforms, spacers who make the sacrifice to donate their blood have been awarded for their service. There is no specific ribbon for donating blood, but Naval Commendation Medals have been given to recognize spacers’ charitable work, Prisoner of War ribbons for assisting other fan groups in their blood drives, and other awards to honor those who make the effort. As Admiral Kotouč phrased it, “Mise byla úspěšná” - the mission was successful.

Article Copyright © 2014, Bureau of Communications, The Royal Manticoran Navy: The Official Honor Harrington Fan Association, Inc.
MCPO Marcus Johnston, RMN – Acting Director, Manticoran News Bureau. All pictures used with permission or used in a way that qualifies as fair use under US copyright law.