Photo By Sgt. Tashera Pravato | The South Carolina branch of the United Service Organizations celebrates its 75th...... read more read more
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COLUMBIA, S.C. - A large gathering of civilian supporters and military members joined the United Service Organizations in celebrating their 75th anniversary with a cake-cutting event at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) USO, Columbia, South Carolina, Feb. 4, 2016.
The USO has supported the U.S. military by bringing comforts of home to deployed service members since 1941. Members from Fort Jackson and the South Carolina National Guard attended the event to say thank you to the organization, who has two facilities near their training sites that provide resources when they are on duty. In addition to the CAE USO, there is a USO facility at the S.C. National Guard's McCrady Training Center on Fort Jackson. Most recently, the Columbia based USO deployed their mobile resources and supported the S.C. National Guard during their Vigilant Guard exercise in March 2015, and then during the historic flooding October 2015.
“For 75 years, we have been helping our services members,” said Katie Kennedy, USO South Carolina operations and programs manager. “Connecting them to the things they fight for, their families and friends back home.”
Attendees at the anniversary celebration included the Adjutant General for S.C., U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston Jr., with his wife Barbara, Deputy Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. R. Van McCarty and the State Command Sergeant Major, Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Brickley.
The USO has been located at CAE for six-years, thanks to the efforts of Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. George W. Goldsmith, chairman of military affairs for the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and the airport commission. “We will continue to grow,” said Goldsmith. “We are spreading out to reach more cities in the state. The airport commission has been a tremendous advocate for USO.”
“The military is about 20 percent of our fliers,” said Dan Mann, executive director for CAE and a member of the USO advisory council. “We are well connected to Fort Jackson because of their basic training units and their school training units that require a lot of in and out traffic, and to Shaw Air Force Base. This is a nice place for Soldiers and Airmen to relax before traveling.”
Mann added that family members of service members really appreciate the USO facility as well and that they often felt like their extended family.
“Seventy-five years is unbelievable,” Mann continued. “These volunteers are phenomenal. They do a wonderful job. I can't thank them enough for what they do for our service members. We couldn't do this without the volunteers.”
Kennedy said the USO at CAE serves about 8,000 service members a month and that they feel they provide service members a place to call home when they can’t be at the real thing. She added they could not do what they do without the support of their volunteers.
“There is not an airport that I go to where I don’t stop in to the USO," said Brickley. "They have a great product and they always take excellent care of our military. When I go to the Columbia Airport USO, I know I’m home.”
“We are very happy to be able to serve,” said Chris Whitmire, a USO volunteer. “We love to support our military personnel. And they always remember to say thank you even though we are here to say thank you to them for giving their time and service for our country.”
The foyer outside the USO was decorated with posters dedicated to the history of the USO. The Army's Basic Combat Training Museum, located on Fort Jackson, donated their time and funds for the decorations.
“We provided the artwork for the celebration because of our partnership with the USO, they do great work and we enjoy supporting them how we can,” said Julie Fishel, collections manager for the museum. “The USO provides so many programs where service members can communicate with families at home, record a Connect Through Reading for their children, make phone calls and having a nice place to be comfortable. The USO’s mission of sacrifice is what we wanted to display.”
“My wife, Barbara, and I are proud to be part of this incredible accomplishment,” said Livingston. “For three-quarters of a century, the USO has been taking care of the needs of troops that the military just couldn’t provide, a connection to home. We are truly humbled by the efforts put forth by these wonderful volunteers who never stop giving."
| Date Taken: | 02.04.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 02.08.2016 10:02 |
| Story ID: | 188200 |
| Location: | COLUMBIA, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 128 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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