December 31, 2014
Serving those who serve Recipes
Delightful Ham Dishes
Around Town
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Youth Stars in Tribute
Photo courtesy the USO of Missouri The USO of Missouri delivers a field lunch to troops stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood earlier this year. This is only one of the ways the USO of Missouri supports military personnel in the state.
Feature Section
USO of Missouri wins top honor for division located at Lambert International Airport
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Healthy Living
By Brett Auten They are there at the most joyous of times and at the most sullen. Whether it’s that sensational reunion or escorting the families of the fallen, the USO has been a constant ally and partner in the lives of the U.S. military since the 1950s. Fortunately for those servicemen and servicewomen coming through Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, they have the best there is to offer. The James S. McDonnell USO, a division of the Missouri USO, was honored for the top U.S. Airport Center-Large Division at the 2014 TellUSO Awards. Located on the lower level of Terminal 1 at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, the James S. McDonnell USO serves as many as 12,000 service members and their families each month along its satellite facility in Terminal 2. Since 1981, over 5 million traveling military and their families have benefited from the multitude of services offered there as the USO of Missouri provides services and smiles to more than 209,000 military personnel and their families annually. “We do the best we can to provide support and a warm, welcome environment,” said Kathy O’Conner, Executive Director of the USO of Missouri.
The USO of Missouri serves the military and their families in Missouri and the Illinois counties of Jersey, Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair. “It’s a tribute to the volunteers for all the hard work they put in,” said David Waltrip, the President of the Board of Directors for the USO of Missouri, of the Terminal facility, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The USO of Missouri leans on 1,200 volunteers to serve troops across the state and those traveling through Lambert. Volunteers typically log around 7,500 hours a month. Military visitors at Lambert receive free food and drinks. The USO has had to roll with the punches of the changing times and have complete WiFi access, comfortable rest areas and an assortment of entertainment options. “It’s very exciting for us and our volunteers,” O’Conner said. “Our guests continually tell us we’re the best USO they’ve been to. The award now validates what we hear every day.” What makes the award extra special is that the TellUSO awards are based on the feedback of thousands of troops who are surveyed about the USO’s programs and services at centers in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Pacific regions.
With nearby Ft. Leonard Wood, the Army is the most frequent branch that comes through Lambert, often times reaching double digits every month for servicemen and servicewomen heading to the Ozark installation. Despite all of the good vibes and positive feedback, it’s a hard financial fight to put out such a good product. See SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE page 2
Learn & Play
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Recognized by Ebony Magazine
“Wild” photos courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures
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