Red Cross exhibit showcases strength of human spirit amid war Published Aug. 6, 2008 By The American Red Cross SAN FRANCISCO -- The American Red Cross Bay Area and the Presidio Trust are proud to announce that are hosting 145 Years of Red Cross Photography: A Memory of Humanity. The exhibition showcases historic photographs from armed conflict around the world as seen through the eyes of the affected, journalists and the humanitarian workers of the International Committee for the Red Cross. The exhibition is on display from July 16 to Aug. 17 at the Presidio Officers' Club Exhibition Hall in San Francisco. Admission is free, and the exhibition is open Wednesdays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 145 Years of Red Cross Photography features photographs selected from the archives of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum in Geneva. Their stark imagery show the strength of the human spirit amid the harsh realities of war and underscore the pressing need for ongoing humanitarian action in today's conflicts. The International Committee for the Red Cross was founded in 1863, born at a time when photography was emerging as a means to document history. As the Red Cross grew throughout the world, its humanitarian workers collected what they were seeing on film, presenting an emotionally powerful testament that visitors can experience through the more than 80 photographs chosen for this exhibit. The exhibit begins with photographs from the battlefields of Solferino, Italy in the mid-19th century and continues on to document medical facilities, orphanages, refugee camps and POWs from countless conflicts, including the current war in Iraq. The exhibition began its worldwide tour in Boston earlier this year and concludes the U.S. leg with its visit to San Francisco, the only location in California to feature the exhibit. The exhibit will be traveling next to St. Petersburg, Russia. For further information, please visit www.redcrossbayarea.org/photoexhibit or call the Presidio Events Line at (415) 561-5500. Sidebars About the American Red Cross Bay Area Governed by volunteers and supported by community donations, the American Red Cross Bay Area helps residents in six counties prepare for disaster, recover from them and connect U.S. military families torn apart by war, terrorism and natural tragedy. The chapter's more than 1,700 personnel, 97 percent of which are volunteers, are all dedicated to saving lives. Every year, the American Red Cross Bay Area mobilizes relief to families affected by more than 500 disasters, trains more than 80,000 people in life-saving and preparedness skills, and exchanges hundreds of emergency messages for military, war and disaster-stricken families. Call 1-888-4-HELP-BAY or visit www.redcrossbayarea.org to learn more. The Red Cross provides nearly half the Bay Area's blood supply. Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) today to schedule your lifesaving donation. About the Presidio Trust The Presidio Trust was established by the United States Congress in 1996 to manage the Presidio of San Francisco, a former army base located at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. The 1,500-acre site contains the infrastructure of a small city as well as expansive open space, a 300-acre historic forest, spectacular views and rare and endangered plants and wildlife. It comprises nearly six million square feet of buildings including 469 historic structures that contribute to its status as a National Historic Landmark District, making it unlike any other national park. In establishing the trust, Congress mandated that it make the park financially self-sufficient by 2013. The trust is the only federal agency with this mandate. For more information, call (415) 561-5500 or visit www.redcrossbayarea.com/photoexhibit or www.presidio.gov.