Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Adrian Borunda | Members of the United Service Organizations, airport staff, veterans and service...... read more read more
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PHOENIX – Arizona Guardsmen, community partners and United Service Organizations Arizona staff celebrated the 75th birthday of the USO Feb. 4 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Michael McGuire, the Arizona National Guard adjutant general, was the keynote speaker at the ceremony that included active duty service members, national guardsmen and veterans from across the Phoenix area. He lauded the devotion of the USO volunteers who operate the center in Sky Harbor’s Terminal 4.
“The strength of this nation lies not in [strategic level debates] but in the selfless service attitude that we have, and that is represented by the volunteers here at the USO,” McGuire said.
The high level of respect and service that USO volunteers bring to 160 facilities worldwide does not go unappreciated by those who have donned the uniform, McGuire said.
“Those 2.3 million that are currently serving [in the military] are all volunteers. They know that they could pay the ultimate price,” McGuire said. “They also know that they can’t do it without your support, because there is no tip to the spear without the will of the entire nation.”
McGuire expressed gratitude that the USO has been there to support service members for so many decades.
“We don’t do anything without the undying support of the communities that have supported us, and the USO has gone the extra mile for 75 years,” McGuire said. “Those of us in uniform are very, very proud of the things that [USO volunteers] do to support us.”
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton also spoke at the celebration and said that USO Arizona is always there for not just those currently serving but for also for those who have left military life.
“This is a special place – staffed by volunteers. We thank you for what you do,” Stanton said. “They give countless hours of their time. They could be doing anything else, but they choose to be here, supporting our military.”
U.S. Air Force Maj. David Barnes, deputy wing chaplain of the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base, spoke about the commonalities between those motivated USO volunteers and their mission and that of the high calling in the military chaplain’s corps.
“As I grew in my chaplain career, the USO has been a huge supporter of the chaplain service. I think that’s because of the USO’s role in what you do to care for the warriors is the same role that the chaplains play,” Barnes said.
As a testament to that strong bond between the service member and the USO, Barnes spoke about how they helped him reach his most junior airmen at Luke Air Force Base.
“We started partnering with the USO, and they helped us with everything from our flight line ministry center that reaches our maintainers who are out there working on those F-16s and F-35s in the 120 degree heat of Arizona in the summertime,” Barnes said.
The USO conducted 48,000 visits to the ministry center and provided more than 65,000 water bottles to airmen, Barnes said.
The USO at Sky Harbor is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., providing a haven for traveling service members, their families and veterans 365 days a year.
| Date Taken: | 02.04.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 02.05.2016 20:36 |
| Story ID: | 188094 |
| Location: | PHOENIX, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 140 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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