Photo By Joseph Schmitt | (From left to right) Commander Naval Forces Japan, Rear. Adm. Dan Cloyd, USO Pacific...... read more read more
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YOKOSUKA, Japan - The Fleet Activities, Yokosuka, community celebrated the opening of the new USO Yokosuka waterfront facility with a ribbon and cake cutting ceremony, Dec. 6.
USO Yokosuka moved from its Club Alliance location to the recently renovated Building B-48, at the corner of Howard Street and Nimitz Boulevard.
Mistress of ceremonies Jewell Willard presided over the ceremony which featured USO Senior Vice President for Operations Alan Reyes, Commander FLEACT, Yokosuka Capt. David Owen, and USO Japan country director Juliet Bucayu-Domingo as keynote speakers.
“The USO provides an important service and alternative to the
Yokosuka community, especially to the single and unaccompanied sailors,” said Owen. “Being far away from loved ones is tough and the activities they offer gives these individuals a safe place to go right here on the installation. In particular, their holiday events such as free Thanksgiving lunch and Christmas morning breakfast are very popular and I greatly appreciate all that they do to ensure our sailors are provided with such great options.”
New additions to this USO facility are all new furniture, as well as a kitchenette and family room. There are also several wired computers, televisions, video game consoles, and wireless internet access for its patrons.
“I’m here to celebrate the fact that we’re opening a USO center, where we need to be the most, here in Yokosuka; and that is astride the piers, where the sailors and their families can come visit us,” said Reyes.
USO Yokosuka first opened in May 2008, servicing visitors from all over the Kanto Plain, including those stationed at U.S. Army Garrison, Japan, Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Yokota Air Force Base, and Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji with programs like United Through Reading®, USO Operation Care Package®, USO Operation Phone Home®, With You All the Way.
“It’s like every USO I’ve ever been to, you’re always welcomed and your always greeted with home-style hospitality,” said Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team Pacific senior enlisted advisor and Operations Chief Gunnery Sgt. Phillip Veracruz.
USO Yokosuka is a nonprofit, congressionally-chartered, private organization and relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities.
The USO staff honored the volunteers who helped with the move and renovation. Recognized were members representing FLEACT, Yokosuka Transient Personnel Unit, FASTPAC, Naval Facilities Command Far East Public Works Self Help department, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74, and USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54).
“Volunteers are the backbone of the organization and without them they wouldn’t be able to provide a lot of their programs,” said Domingo. “If you would like to volunteer your time on the evenings or weekends, we would love to have you come out and support the USO.”
Other organizations recognized for their support of the USO were Branch 103 of the Fleet Reserve Association, Post 1054 of the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars, Stars and Stripes, and U and A Advertising.
| Date Taken: | 12.06.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 12.18.2012 03:08 |
| Story ID: | 99458 |
| Location: | YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 207 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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