Volunteering at the USO!

Earlier this summer Karin and I spent some time on the beautiful Oregon coast.  We rented a small, fully furnished house near the beach and spent time reading, watching a movie or two, walking our two dogs and sight-seeing.  We visited the very popular Tillamook Cheese factory in Tillamook (maybe you have had their cheese or fabulous ice cream!).  Besides the great self-guided tour of the cheese factory and a very good restaurant, they have a very good gift shop because it is a major tourist attraction on Oregon’s Highway 101.

While we were browsing, I spotted a rack with a series of books entitled Things To Do When You Turn 50, and Things To Do When You Turn 60, etc.  Since I had just turned 69, I looked at the one titled Things To Do When You Turn 70 (Sellers Publishing).  These are great little books filled with short, quick reading essays by authors who have been there or are experts working with people who have been there.  One of the essays suggested that you make a list of all those things you have wanted to do but have never had the time.  So, I started a list.  Volunteering at the USO is one of the items I wrote on my list.

For a long time, I have wanted to work with veterans, and I have had the desire to volunteer at the USO at Seatac Airport or at JBLM (Joint Base Lewis McChord).  Since I am now officially retired, I thought I certainly have the time to do this.  A couple of weeks ago I drove to one of our nearby park and ride lots, caught the bus to downtown Seattle, transferred to our light rail train that went directly to the airport and knocked on the door of the manager of the SeaTac Center of USO Northwest.  I introduced myself and was warmly welcomed; I told him that I wanted to volunteer and he basically answered “When can you start?”

What a great response!  Matt Sult, a retired Army LTC, is the manager, and he can’t be much older than my eldest son!  He showed me around the Center which hosted over 100,000 visitors last year (active duty and their dependents, retired military and occasional visitors).  SeaTac is one of only eight USO Centers in the US that is open 24-7, and is one of the busiest.  It provides a place for soldiers, sailors and Marines to layover between flights (there are regular daily AMC [Air Mobility Command] flights from the Far East) where they can get food, a shower, bunk time, computer/internet access, or just watch a Seahawk game.  (The Seattle Seahawks, La-Z-Boy and Alaska Airlines are great supporters of this USO center.)  And all this is provided free of charge.

Well, I have completed my Basic Training that consisted of 2 four hour hands-on sessions over the last 2 Tuesdays.  I begin working a regular Thursday 0600-1200 shift after I return from our DC reunion!  I’m really excited that I will be able to work with active duty personnel and their families, as well as veterans.  And the USO has such a great team of volunteers it’s just plain fun to go to work again.  That’s what Matt told me was the most strictly enforced rule for USO NW volunteers: You gotta HAVE FUN!

I plan on having more fun than a guy my age should be allowed to have!  See you in DC next week too!