Edward Ray Kisslak of Waynesboro reached a milestone during a recent blood drive at the American Legion Post 15, bringing his total donations to 35 gallons of blood.
Kisslak, 86, a retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant who served 33 years, first donated blood in Washington D.C. in 1962 during his military service.
“I can remember the first sergeant asking me if I would be willing to donate blood since I am O-Negative, in the event of an emergency,” the Waynesboro man recalled. “I said I would, and the next thing I knew I was on a vehicle transport to a hospital in D.C., I had no idea what was going on.
“Later that evening I got a call from a young lady, and she was crying on the phone, I asked her what was wrong and she said that the blood I gave was given to her little girl and it helped save her life. Ever since then donating blood has been number one on my list; there is nothing more important,” Kisslak said.
During his military service, Kisslak was the leading blood donor in the Air Force and received a Certificate of Commendation signed by the Secretary of Defense.
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