It?s not your father?s USO.
Nor is it the USO that Gloria Roman remembers from the late 1950s, when she was recruited as a high schooler to be part of a group that went to USO dances in Baltimore. It was there that she met her future husband, Joe.
Today, Gloria and Joe Roman are volunteers at the USO Lounge at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
“We are very proud to be there when [service members] are coming back from overseas,” she said. “They can?t thank you enough.”
About 50,000 service members come through the BWI USO Lounge each year, said Kathryn Carroll, special events manager with the USO of Metropolitan Washington. About 130 volunteers man the lounge from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.
Still more volunteers are needed, Carroll said. Volunteer coordinator Larry Cannette will host an information session at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 for those interested in volunteering for a new shift from 6 to 9 a.m.
Service members can find a friendly ear, snacks and a safe place to store their baggage while they await their flights.
They also can make free telephone calls and use a computer, Carroll said.
Founded in 1941, USO still serves the needs of military families.
“The big difference today is the population we serve,” Carroll said. “We focus on military families.”
That focus includes emergency housing and food assistance, as well as prekindergarten and after-school programs for children of all ages.
Information on making donations to the USO is available at www.usometrodc.org.
More information
» USO Lounge at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
» Lower Level, International Pier, Baggage Claim 14
» Larry Cannette, volunteer coordinator, 410-859-3890
