USO Fort Meade Center Opens in Maryland

Jan. 16, 2013 - PRLog -- Fort Meade, MD – With the help of business leaders, senior military leaders, representatives of elected officials, and WWE Superstar David Otunga, the USO of Metropolitan Washington (USO-Metro) (http://www.usometro.org/) officially opened the doors to a new and expanded USO Center at Fort George G. Meade.  

The new center, designed to meet the needs of the garrison’s growing population, will serve military members and their families in the Maryland region.  The Fort Meade USO Center will be the largest located on a military installation in Maryland. USO-Metro serves more than 500,000 troops and their families living in the Washington-Baltimore region.

“Thanks to the incredibly generous support of many local companies and the surrounding community, USO-Metro can continue to fulfill its mission of lifting the spirits of America’s troops and their families,” said Elaine Rogers, President and CEO of USO-Metro. “This Fort Meade USO Center will provide so much comfort and joy to our Fort Meade military community through a whole host of our signature programs and events.”

Maryland-based Harkins Builders (http://harkinsbuilders.com/) fully renovated an existing building at Fort Meade on a pro-bono basis. CSC (http://www.csc.com/) and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) (http://www.saic.com/) have committed as multi-year “Center Sponsors” to support the operation of the Fort Meade USO Center and will also be inducted into the new Center’s “Founders Circle”. Other companies that make up the “Founders Circle” for their one-time donations include:

·         Booz Allen Hamilton (http://www.boozallen.com/)

·         DC Capital Partners (http://www.dccapitalpartners.com/)

·         Dell (http://www.dell.com/)

·         Eaton Corporation (http://www.eaton.com/)

·         Emergent BioSolutions (http://www.emergentbiosolutions.com/)

·         Level 3 Communications (http://www.level3.com/)

·         Northrop Grumman (http://www.northropgrumman.com/)

·         Rockwell Collins (http://rockwellcollins.com/)

USO Centers provide a “home-away-from-home” for military service members and their families by delivering a sense of community and comfort in addition to a host of activities, special events and recreation.  USO-Metro anticipates hosting 18 special events per year at the new facility and expects to serve 2,000 – 3,000 military guests per month. Fort Meade’s diverse military population includes junior-enlisted members from all five branches of the service, many of whom will have just completed basic training.

“The USO’s new location near the Defense Information School student barracks is a great location fitting of the amazing work the USO continues to do for the Fort, and gives them better exposure to Fort Meade’s growing and diverse service member population,” said Fort Meade Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein.

“Having WWE Superstar David Otunga and Stephanie McMahon here for the center’s opening is the icing on the cake. We appreciate their show of support to the USO and all the great things they do for service members and their families,” said Rothstein.

The Fort Meade USO Center is staffed by knowledgeable volunteers and offers complimentary programs and services including community events, emergency housing, food assistance and holiday programs. The Center, located at 8612 6th Armored Cavalry Road, features cable television, Wi-Fi, video gaming, a computer lab, a theatre room, a food pantry and a large patio and outdoor seating area.  

MEDIA: For more details about the Fort Meade USO Center, please contact Michelle Shortencarrier at 703-864-6429 or by email at Michelle@USOMetro.org.

About USO of Metropolitan Washington: USO-Metro is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization chartered by Congress, and dedicated to “Serving those who serve, and their families” in Washington D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia.  It is through the generous financial support of individuals and organizations in the local community that USO-Metro is able to fulfill its mission. With the help of nearly 5,000 devoted volunteers, USO-Metro provides programs and services for active duty troops and their families at area military hospitals; through its Mobile USO program; at five USO Centers, four USO airport lounges and through Operation USO Care Package. For more information please visit www.usometro.org or “Like” us on Facebook at USO-Metro (https://www.facebook.com/USOMetroDC) and follow us on Twitter at USOMetroDC. (https://twitter.com/USOMetroDC)