By Michael Bowman

Staff Sergeant Paul F. Brooks dedicated his life to saving others. After joining the army, Brooks rose through the ranks, becoming a medical instructor, teaching lifesaving skills to fellow service members. He carried that mission during his deployment to Baghdad, Iraq as a combat medic.  Tragically, Brooks was killed by an improvised explosive device on his final mission in 2009.

Thanks to his family, Paul Brooks’ mission to save lives continues today. For the past 15 years, the Brooks family has partnered with the American Red Cross and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) to conduct blood drives in Paul’s memory. “Our sister used to work for the Red Cross,” said Paul’s sister Christy. “And so she said, ‘Hey let's do this. The Red Cross was very much involved. They wanted us to do it, and we wanted to do it.”

Christy Brooks knows firsthand the lifesaving power of Red Cross Blood drives. A nearly fatal car crash left Christy fighting for her life.  “I had half a pint of blood in my body,” said Christy. “I was dying and without one bag of blood, I would be dead. So, to me, the Red Cross means a lot, and they've always just been there to help.”

Over the past 15 years, Christy Brooks worked tirelessly to make the Paul Brooks Memorial Blood Drive successful.  And she knows she can count on the support of VFW members.  “We've had our days when we were not going to make the goal,” said Christy. “But then someone will walk in and say, ‘What do you need?”

While blood donations are the primary mission of the Paul F. Brooks Memorial Blood Drive, the event has become a power platform to raise awareness about veteran suicide.  A recent blood drive held at VFW Post 1991 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, organizers honored service members lost to suicide, including a fellow VFW member lost last year. “We placed a book memorial showing a little over 300 soldiers that we've lost since 9/11 and we have 22 boots with their description. This could be the only time their name is said this year.”

Paul F. Brooks lived a life defined by purpose and mission. Today, the blood drive established in his honor carries that mission forward by providing lifesaving blood to those in need and raising awareness about veteran suicide. Now in its fifteenth year, the Paul F. Brooks Memorial Blood Drive has become a legacy of compassion, service, and remembrance. As the Brooks’ family looks to the future, they hope to inspire a new generation to continue Paul’s mission and expand its impact beyond Arkansas.

“He's got kids and when his kids get old enough, they can take it over,” said Christy.  “They're from Missouri, so we're hoping that they can get something started in Missouri and we can help them along the way. Most importantly, we just want to keep my brother's memory alive and what he did, saving lives. That's what we want to do.”