By Elizabeth Farina
efarina@midlothianexchange.com

The evening celebration of the USO Center’s grand opening at the Richmond International Airport was well underway on Tuesday, July 13.  Beyond the crowd of military personnel, family members, supportive volunteers and elected officials, a weary traveling Army private sat on his luggage waiting to hear information about his flight.

He and two other soldiers, all who had been traveling since 4 a.m. that day, learned that their flight to Germany would be delayed until the following afternoon.  The three soldiers’ next stop, for now, would be the newly opened USO.

Midlothian resident Carol Cox, one of the USO volunteers, would make sure they felt at home at the center during their time in Richmond.

And that’s exactly how Hank Giffin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the USO of Hampton Roads and Central Virginia, described the purpose of the USO Center to those gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “We have eight other centers, this one as well as all the others provide what we call a ‘home away from home’ with onsite computer services, snacks, beverages, T.V. viewing areas … Don’t sit in one of those chairs or you’ll fall right asleep,” he said.

The USO, a nonprofit organization, also provides toiletries, transportation and lodging assistance for military personnel on the move. Giffin explained that the center in Richmond will serve an anticipated 2,500 military personnel and family members each month. “There will probably be even more as we get down the road,” he said.

The idea for a USO center to be opened at the Richmond-based airport was in response to the increased growth at Fort Lee, Giffin said. He added that working with the Richmond Airport Commission, the Richmond Airport staff, and the generous support of corporate and private sponsors moved the project towards completion within 24 months.  “We got a lot of positive support and this is the result two years later,” he said.

“The center will be available to the men and women passing through as well as provide support for those who are stationed here at Fort Lee, Fort Pickett, Fort AP Hill, and Defense Supply Center Richmond as well as anyone else in active duty and reserves and the guard in uniform that passes through the airport,” Giffin said.

At the USO center, located on the ground floor at the airport terminal, Cox was busy asking two of the three soldiers if they each would like a ham and cheese sandwich. Private 1st Class Vidal Velez of Connecticut and Private Toryen Wilk of Texas graciously ended each sentence with a ‘yes, mam’ and set their luggage against the wall.

“I’m thankful for this place being open or otherwise, I’d be kind of lost,” Velez said.

As their fellow traveler made his way to the USO’s computer hub for an online video chat with his family back in Pennsylvania, Wilk took a big bite of his sandwich while Velez settled in an over-sized black leather recliner to catch a short nap. “It’s a comfort and it’s nice,” Velez said.

Wilk was grateful that the USO center happened to open two weeks before the three soldiers were stranded in Richmond for 24 hours. “It started out with the lady from upstairs [at the gates] and she told me about the USO. Then, she took me down here and there was a whole bunch of greeting and being treated a way that I had never been before,” he said.

For Cox, an Army veteran, being part of the USO center is important for her. “I remember traveling and we didn’t have USO’s and I think there should be more recognition given to our military overseas,” Cox said.

The mother of three grown children, a professional nanny, and member of American Legion Post 210 began volunteering a few hours a week after work. “Everybody can volunteer to do something,” she said.  “I volunteered here two weeks ago when it first opened … I’m glad to be doing something for them.”

Army Staff Sgt. Kevin Moss, originally from Alabama, has found during his 14 years of military service that USO Centers are a good go-to resource. “They’re always there to provide a place to relax during your travels, a little bit of food here and there helps. And if you have any travel problems, like delayed flights, they’re always there to assist you with the lodging – just like these guys,” he said pointing to the other soldiers.

Moss added that the work the volunteers do at the USO Centers is very much appreciated. “I guess I can speak for all service members, if it wasn’t for the USOs, a lot of us would be left out in the lobby. We really appreciate it.”

To find out more about the USO Center in Richmond or to volunteer, visit online www.usohr.org.