American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2008 - Servicemembers transiting through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, near Washington, D.C., now have a new area to spend time between flights after the recent dedication of a new United Service Organizations lounge.

This newly relocated lounge, which began offering services in March, provides a home away from home for traveling servicemembers and their families. It offers active-duty military personnel, National Guardsmen, reservists, Merchant Marines, and their families a variety of free amenities.

Lounge visitors can enjoy high-definition TV with a movie library of current feature films, a fully-stocked snack bar, wireless Internet access, and domestic and international calling courtesy of Verizon.

"Offering these free services gives us a chance to say thank you to those who sacrifice so much for our country," said Elaine Rogers, president of the USO of Metropolitan Washington. "We are so lucky to have such dedicated sponsors who have enabled us to provide these lounges."

This lounge, like all USO lounges was made possible by the generosity of corporate sponsors. URS Corporation, Turner Construction, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, and corporate partners Verizon, CACI and Pitney Bowes all contributed to making the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport USO lounge possible.

USO of Metropolitan Washington dedicated the new lounge May 8. Senior leaders from the military and government, including Bobby Sturgell, acting administrator of the FAA, and Virginia Sen. Patsy Ticer, performed the ribbon cutting ceremony.

USO is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families stationed at home and abroad.

*Related Sites:*
United Service Organizations  [ http://www.uso.org ]
USO Dedicates New Lounge at Reagan National Airport [ http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49864 ]