Service members get star treatment in Operation 'That’s My Dress'

Photo By Cpl. Krista James | Guests search for their dresses at the United Service Organizations of Metropolitan New York sponsored Operation “That’s My Dress” event for Fleet Week New York May 24, 2015. “This is the first time that we’ve done the event for service members,” said Jessica McAndrews, Vice President of programs, services and operations for the USO of Metropolitan New York. “We’ve done the event the past two years for teens of service members and we were lucky enough to get donations for this event from designers that are a little more age appropriate for this group.” (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Krista James/Released)  

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES

05.24.2015

Story by Cpl. Krista James 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

NEW YORK - For 27 years, Marines, sailors and Coast Guardsmen have come together from across the United States for Fleet Week New York. FWNY is an invaluable opportunity for the local population of New York and the surrounding tri-state area to meet the service members and learn about the latest capabilities of today’s maritime services.

During FWNY, the services attend many different events that honor their service such as the Navy League harbor cruise, the National Arts Club dinner, Rock the Fleet party and many more. This year, however, female service members got to experience a different kind of appreciation at the USO of Metropolitan New York sponsored Operation “That’s My Dress.”

“This is the first time that we’ve done the event for service members,” said Jessica McAndrews, Vice President of programs, services and operations for the USO of Metropolitan New York. “We’ve done the event the past two years for teens of service members and we were lucky enough to get donations for this event from designers that are a little more age appropriate for this group.”

McAndrews said that Operation “That’s My Dress” is a program where dresses are given to service members and spouses of the military with donations from Sherri Hill, Anne Taylor and Ralph Lauren.

“There are over 5,000 dresses to hand out so we make sure everyone gets a choice. We also have a beauty bar where we hand out makeup and jewelry, we have hair and makeup consultations and a cocktail hour and fashion show,” McAndrews said.

First Lt. Micki Duran, communications officer for 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, said that events like this show a different side to the females of the military, and it shows appreciation in a much different way.

“It’s really nice that they recognize that there are so few female service members and that we enjoy something different like Operation “That’s My Dress,” Duran said. “It’s been really important for us as service members, especially the junior enlisted, to be recognized for what we do in a special and different way than you would normally think.”

Duran went on to say that the event was the best event she has attended at Fleet Week and that the rest of the women she spoke to all agreed.

Besides the glitz and glam, service members and the local New York community still have a few more days of Fleet Week which will include the soldier’s and sailor’s Memorial Day observance, a Glen Island Aviation Demo and a Mets game for USO military appreciation day.

• Date Taken: 05.24.2015
• Date Posted: 05.27.2015 09:10
• Story ID: 164617
• Location: NEW YORK, NY, US