Sept. 04--Though the grand opening is still a few days away, the USO Welcome Center at Tampa International Airport is already a hit.
Located on the second level between United and British Airways, the center has served hundreds of active duty service members, their dependents, National Guard members, reservists and retirees since a soft opening and series of open houses that began last month.
The center has proved so popular it has already been presented with two challenge coins, the military's "attaboy" currency.
"This is truly an exciting time," said Tish Sheesley, newly appointed executive director of USO Tampa Bay. "We were tickled. Our second or third day, a general came in and gave us our first challenge coin."
A few days later, the center received its second, from Command Sgt. Maj. Frank Grippe of U.S. Central Command.
And 6th Air Mobility Wing commander Col. Scott DeThomas has also visited, Sheesley said.
The 1,100 square foot center -- the first to be chartered by the national organization in nearly two decades -- gives those with military ties a chance to relax and enjoy the comforts of home. In addition to creature comforts, the center will also provide service members with a chance to make DVDs of themselves reading books to give to their children as a reminder of them while they are deployed, Sheesley said.
"It gives me goose bumps," she said.
Sheesley is not alone in being thrilled with the center.
"This is very exciting," said Walter Lamerton, a retired Air Force senior master sergeant who, along with his wife, Susan, was the driving force behind the center.
In October 2010, Lamerton reached out to a retired Air Force general, Richard Myers, the chairman of the USO board of governors.
Lamerton used to work for Myers in Japan.
It was the beginning of an all-out effort to bring a USO welcome center to an airport in a community with one of the highest concentrations of veterans anywhere.
Through his efforts, Lamerton was able to not only obtain a charter, but helped persuade airport officials to fund the $200,000 construction as part of its $20 million renovation project.
But opening the center is just the first step.
Operating 12 hours a day, seven days a week, the center needs three volunteers per three-hour shift.
"Recruiting first and foremost," is the initial objective, said Sheesley, formerly executive director of the Science & Discovery Center of Northwest Florida.
Open houses will continue through Wednesday. The grand opening is set for 10:30 a.m. Thursday on the airport's third level, followed by a ribbon-cutting at the welcome center.
For information or to volunteer, call (813) 676-4311.
Copyright 2012 - Tampa Tribune, Fla.
