Until Every One Comes Home

My biggest pet peeve is when someone fails acknowledge a goodwill gesture without saying so much as a "thank you". To me, neglecting this phrase is probably the biggest indicator that you are delinquent in integrating completely with the rest of humanity. I mean, how hard is it to open your mouth and tell someone that what they're doing is appreciated? 

I'm writing this blog posting because I want to express my gratitude for this here view.

I know that most of my readers already appreciate the United Service Organizations and everything it offers to those of us serving in uniform. For the few who are not in the know, I wanted shed some light on this great institution- and also thank the USO for the comfort that they provide to so many wayward souls.

The USO has been around since the early 1940s, and while it is known for bringing celebrities to combat zones in the name of morale, welfare, and recreation, they provide so much more than just Camp Shoes. In a larger sense, the USO's charter is to ensure the emotional well-being of the American servicemember- which means helping out sorry people like me who stumble into an airport bleary-eyed after a nine hour flight and now have a six hour layover to contend kill with little means of entertainment. That's the USO that I most appreciate.

Behold your home away from home. If you're flying into an American airport, chances are good that you'll find a USO there to feed you, hook you up with a phone, allow you to take a nap, or simply provide you with some holiday cheer. Experiencing any one of these possibilities is a pretty big deal.

I walked into this particular USO and was told to to put my bag in the back room where it would be safe. How many times have you traveled by yourself and have wanted to leave your bag unattended so you could do something as simple as use the bathroom or walk around unburdened?


USOs receive generous donations from individuals and companies all the time. As I sat in my comfy leather chair and availed of the free wi-fi, one of the volunteers came in with a platter of cookies that had just been dropped off as a donation. Thank you, faceless nameless person who just brought me Christmas cookies! Now I really feel like it's Christmas.


Most USOs offer some form of a food and beverage center. Fresh coffee is always kept brewing, and the fridge is stocked with sodas and water. The freezers usually have sailor favorites like Hot Pockets or burritos that you can microwave, and you are always free to take as much or as little as you'd like.


USOs have books, magazines and sometimes even movies for your entertainment. It's all coming in from donations. What I also love about the USO is that you can go in to a center and be left completely alone if that's what you're seeking. Maybe you only want to catch a nap or enjoy a few quiet moments to yourself- the volunteers understand where you're coming from and are ready to do as much or as little as you need. You can't ask for much more than that when you're out on the road.


It seems that everyone on this planet has a cause to promote, but I can tell you that the USO is a worthy organization that does a great many things with the donations that they receive. Take my word for it, and click here if you'd like to learn more about helping out their mission.

Despite all of my travel adventures, I've been lucky enough to keep myself out of trouble and away from any serious need of a lifeline. Having said that, there have been many times where I have ducked my head into an airport USO to ask a question or make a long-distance call- or maybe just grab a Diet Coke after a long-haul flight. It's nice to know that no matter where I go in America, I can count on a friendly face who will do as much as they can simply because I am flashing a military ID. The volunteers who staff these places are like gold, and I can only hope that they feel our appreciation for everything that they do.

I'm not the sea story telling variety of sailor- and I want to ensure that my taciturn nature while sitting in the USO is not taken as ingratitude. So with that in mind I wanted to post a few snapshots of Megan's New England- a place that I don't visit nearly as often as I'd like. The long haul back to these local environs always invokes an emotional elbow straight to my heart- and I can feel it as soon as I grab my over-packed carry-on and begin the thousand mile journey with a single step. Nothing feels better than getting back to where you belong, and the fact this trek homeward is supported by places like the USO couldn't be more valuable- or appreciated.

If your eyes are sharp (or you know what you're looking at) then you'll spy Woods Hole and Martha's Vineyard in this photo. I can't adequately verbalize to you how this sight makes me feel- or how grateful I was that the airline gave me a window seat on the right side of the aircraft on this trip.

Bridge!



And with that I am finally back in The Hub. As I walk towards the baggage claim area, it is somewhat fitting that I pass our local USO chapter. I look inside and can see a solider in uniform sitting at a computer terminal. No doubt he was posting something fabulously witty on his Facebook page. Or maybe he was professing his own appreciation for the free computer station provided by the Boston USO. Either way, I know that he's thankful for this resource.


We all love familiarity. I think that's my dad talking- or maybe Ben Franklin. They both kinda talk and look alike, apparently...


It's so nice to be home, and to once again be a girl amongst the Massholes who speak fast and speak my language. It's also so nice to be in 40 degree weather for a change- I'll take it over the Celsius alternative any day, and I'm going to enjoy this precious time at home. 


Thank you, USO. You guys really do lead by example. I can't wait for the time when the rest of us can also get back to where we call home. There's really nothing like it.