thedrifter
12-23-07, 07:04 AM
USO volunteers take on extra hours during busy holidays
By Savannah Morning News
Created 2007-12-22 00:30
Having just graduated after 13 weeks of intensive basic training at Parris Island, S.C., 33 newly minted Marines filed off a bus Friday morning and walked inside the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.
As they split off to their respective airlines that would take them to their holiday destinations, many of them stopped at the USO station for a free snack or just to see a friendly face or hear a kind word or a thank you.
The USO volunteers on Friday included Bob Miller, Ed Abernathy, and husband and wife Barry and Charlene Nelson.
"We're sort of a home to them away from home," said Abernathy, who has been volunteering for eight years and is a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. "It's nice to see the expressions on their faces whenever we do something nice for them and congratulate them on being Marines. They appreciate the fact that we recognize them."
Starting Monday, the 42 USO volunteers at the airport are taking on extra duty themselves. They will be volunteering seven days a week until 10 p.m. through the end of the year to handle the higher number of armed forces personnel traveling for the holidays.
As wife Charlene greeted a soldier and his parents on their way home to Rhode Island, Barry Nelson assisted another new Marine in finding his flight.
"We wanted to give back," Barry Nelson said. "We see all the young men and women and what they're doing for us overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan, and we wanted to be part of giving back to them. So this is our opportunity to do something for them."
The obvious favorites among the lean and hungry Marines: Slim Jims, candy and potato chips, among other free snacks.
"These are like gold in boot camp," said Amanda Joseph, 19, of Oakland, Calif., after grabbing a pecan crunch granola bar.
Joseph was joined by friends Jenny Pagan, 25, and Michelle Watson, 20, who agreed that the USO station's goodies were a welcome change from the strict diet at Parris Island.
Next to the USO station was the airport's Military Reception Area, complete with plush leather couches, books, magazines, playing cards and more snacks. One soldier was fast asleep on one of the couches.
New graduate Tawny Glenn, 18, of Independence, Mo., said she appreciates the USO's services. She wants to go to Iraq and serve her country.
But, she added, "It's really nice just to have some place to come and not be screamed at every 3 seconds."
Ellie
By Savannah Morning News
Created 2007-12-22 00:30
Having just graduated after 13 weeks of intensive basic training at Parris Island, S.C., 33 newly minted Marines filed off a bus Friday morning and walked inside the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.
As they split off to their respective airlines that would take them to their holiday destinations, many of them stopped at the USO station for a free snack or just to see a friendly face or hear a kind word or a thank you.
The USO volunteers on Friday included Bob Miller, Ed Abernathy, and husband and wife Barry and Charlene Nelson.
"We're sort of a home to them away from home," said Abernathy, who has been volunteering for eight years and is a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. "It's nice to see the expressions on their faces whenever we do something nice for them and congratulate them on being Marines. They appreciate the fact that we recognize them."
Starting Monday, the 42 USO volunteers at the airport are taking on extra duty themselves. They will be volunteering seven days a week until 10 p.m. through the end of the year to handle the higher number of armed forces personnel traveling for the holidays.
As wife Charlene greeted a soldier and his parents on their way home to Rhode Island, Barry Nelson assisted another new Marine in finding his flight.
"We wanted to give back," Barry Nelson said. "We see all the young men and women and what they're doing for us overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan, and we wanted to be part of giving back to them. So this is our opportunity to do something for them."
The obvious favorites among the lean and hungry Marines: Slim Jims, candy and potato chips, among other free snacks.
"These are like gold in boot camp," said Amanda Joseph, 19, of Oakland, Calif., after grabbing a pecan crunch granola bar.
Joseph was joined by friends Jenny Pagan, 25, and Michelle Watson, 20, who agreed that the USO station's goodies were a welcome change from the strict diet at Parris Island.
Next to the USO station was the airport's Military Reception Area, complete with plush leather couches, books, magazines, playing cards and more snacks. One soldier was fast asleep on one of the couches.
New graduate Tawny Glenn, 18, of Independence, Mo., said she appreciates the USO's services. She wants to go to Iraq and serve her country.
But, she added, "It's really nice just to have some place to come and not be screamed at every 3 seconds."
Ellie