Ribbon cutting ceremony marks official opening of USO lounge

Published June 9, 2010
By Cristie Varvaro

AIR FORCE DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON -- The new United Service Organization lounge at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., is a place where service members are welcomed with open arms and are treated like family. The USO held a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday, June 9, celebrating the official opening of its newly renovated lounge at the Andrews passenger terminal.

The lounge was established to provide various services and items to traveling service members and their families. Traveling service members can grab snacks and beverages, use desktop computers with printing capability, call home using free telephone access, and peruse free books and magazines.

Since the organization's start in 1941, the USO has tried to be a bridge between the American people and the men and women in uniform conveying the heartfelt appreciation and support of a grateful nation. USO centers have provided a "home away from home" for many Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, sailors and soldiers.

The ribbon cutting ceremony included remarks from the President of the USO of Metropolitan Washington, Ms. Elaine B. Rogers, and Col. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost, Commander of the 89th Airlift Wing.

Ms. Rogers, who has worked for the USO for 35 years, expressed her gratitude for USO volunteers and praised them for their efforts. "We could not survive without our volunteers," she said. "Thank you for what you do. You truly make such an amazing difference in what an organization like ours can do."

Volunteers can be found at the new USO lounge assisting service members and their families with transportation, lodging and other questions. Ms. Hazel Stevens has volunteered 8,362 hours with the USO over the past 15 years. "It's been my pleasure to volunteer for 15 years," she said. "It's a huge part of my life and it's great to know that I am giving back."

Colonel Van Ovost spoke of the positive impact the USO and its volunteers have made on service members and their families. "It's about the heart of our volunteers reaching out to the heart of our service members, welcoming them in and providing them with a little piece of home anywhere in the world our service members are."

USO-Metro operates four additional lounges in airports throughout the NCR to assist military travelers: Reagan National Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport.

The USO lounge at Andrews will be open from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily. For additional information, call (301) 981-4686.