European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 14, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A photograph of Jean Henri Dunant founder of the International red Cross. The red Crossone positive result of Warby Ron Jensen staff writer on june 24, 1859, an army of austrians confronted an army of French and piedmontese near Solferino Italy. The purpose of the ensuing Battle was to free Northern Italy and solidify the country. The result of the Battle that Day was 40,000 casualties strewn across the terrain. Into this science came Swiss businessman Jean Henri Dunant. Aghast at the suffering he organized volunteers to enter the Battlefield and help the injured victims of the conflict. The horror he saw that Day was recalled in 1862 when he published a memory of Solferino. In that Book Dunant called for an International principle of some sort that would Lead to Relief for the wounded. In 1864, a meeting in Geneva resulted in the Geneva convention for the amelioration of the condition of the wounded and sick of armies in the Field. That became the International red Cross. The Story of the organization is told in displays at the International red Cross and red Crescent museum in Geneva. The Emblem was suggested at the first meetings amps Ron Jensen the petrified a statue created to denounce human rights violations stands outside the museum. Two researchers look through the extensive file containing names of prisoners of War. File when a Delegate proposed Quot a White armlet on the left  minutes of the meeting read Quot following some discussion or. Appia s proposal was adopted after amendment to a White armlet bearing a red  the red Crescent refers to the organization in moslem states where the Cross was considered offensive during the Russo turkish War of 1877-78. At the museum s Entrance is a interesting sculpture of several figures bound and blindfolded. The work the petrified is by Carl Bucher and symbolizes the human rights violations that the red Cross attempts to soothe and prevent. The dark somber museum tells the Story of the humanitarian organization through photographs and Black and White film footage. The organization was involved in humanitarian efforts during Many wars around the turn of the Century including the sino japanese War 1894-95 the Boer War 1899-1902 the Spanish american War in 1898 and the mexican revolution 1910-20. But world War i was a great period of growth. A during this time the organization took a new responsibility that of tracing prisoners of War. This has become one of the organization s main duties during armed conflicts. Shelf after shelf in the museum holds the card file used by the red Cross to record prisoners held by 38 nations in the War. In All there Are 7 million cards each Cross filed by country of origin country of incarceration and name. The cards were used to put families in touch with prisoners. The information is confidential and can be researched Only by written request which still happens As families research their history. Also in the world War i Section of the museum a Grainy crude film shows the Battlefield conditions during the War to end All wars. The film s primitive technology gives it an added gloom. The next Large exhibit is that of world War ii. One highlight is a Telegram of 21,590 words sent in 1943 by americans to the red Cross. It lists the names of 2,341 prisoners held in the United states. The museum not Only captures the history of the organization but also attempts to examine the overwhelming affliction that it attempts to address. The opening exhibit does this by pointing out that among the natural world the Only species that kills its members in an organized fashion is the human being. The International red Cross and red Crescent museum is open from 10 am. To 5 . Dally except tuesday. The Entrance fee is 10 Swiss francs about $6. The museum includes a gift shop and cafeteria. It is located across the Street from the palais Des nations Complex. 10 stripes Magazine May 14, 1992