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Exhausted from a long journey from war-torn Iraq, a soldier landed at Philadelphia International Airport at about 6:30 a.m. last Thursday.
When he passed by the USO lounge in Terminal D it wasn’t open yet, so he waited outside.
A short time after that soldier’s decision to wait, volunteer Lillian Cohen, from the 2600 block of Marshall Street, arrived at 6:30 just like every morning to prepare the lounge for its opening. Open 365 days a year, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., the United Services Organization lounge is a welcoming center, equipped with showers and beds, for all active duty military/reservists and their families.
Feeling bad for the weary soldier, Cohen, 90, let him in.
"He was so tired. All he wanted to do was lay down. He was up all night, maybe missed his plane," she said.
Cohen offered the man something to eat and asked if he wanted to shower.
But all he wanted to do was sleep.
When the soldier awoke a few hours later, Cohen had already left for her volunteer job at Fels Senior Center, Broad and Porter streets. Touched by her hospitality, the man scribbled a thank-you note, saying how grateful he was that she allowed him in the lounge before its opening.
"It gave me such a good feeling. It gives me a good feeling that I’m helping somebody," Cohen said.
What Cohen did that day is what staffers and volunteers of the 124 USOs around the world do day in and day out – serve those who serve. The USO’s mission is, in wartime or in peace, to provide morale services to military members, said Executive Director D.J. Stanhope of the Philadelphia USO affiliate. The affiliate is comprised of the airport location and McGuire Air Force Base, which is south of Trenton, N.J.
The USO is a nonprofit, private charitable organization, not a government agency. It was created in 1941 when six service organizations came together for the sole purpose of serving the military, Stanhope said. Today, those organizations still exist independently and include The Salvation Army, YMCA and YWCA, among others.
"We are a civilian grass-roots organization that exists solely out of our affection and esteem for our military services. We have no political agenda or affiliation," Stanhope said.
An "Army brat" born in Maine, who never spent more than two years in the same place growing up, Stanhope recently relocated from Japan to Bella Vista to run the local affiliate. For the last decade, she’s operated USOs in Korea and Japan. She also spent two months in Kuwait running the USO from a tent in the desert.
"Sixteen-hour days, hard on your feet, but incredibly rewarding," she said.
Sixteen members of her family, starting with her grandfather, served in the military – every branch except the Coast Guard.
"This is my way of serving. There is an old motto of the USO of serving those who serve. It’s still very meaningful," she said.
SAY THE THREE initials and most people think the USO went out with World War II or they think it only sends entertainers overseas.
"And the younger generation has never even heard of us," Stanhope said.
USOs are run by a board of directors who hire a small staff. Like most nonprofits, the organization relies heavily on volunteers. The local affiliate has 150 volunteers who split their time between the airport and McGuire. During the day, volunteers are mostly retired folks and, at night, young professionals.
"I just think it is very admirable that people will donate of their time and talent in that way. This is a way of them making public their commitment to the armed services. People say support the troops and this is a way you do that," Stanhope said.
Cohen has been volunteering for the last 15 years at the airport location. Two years ago, the USO honored her 3,000 hours of volunteer work with a plaque.
Cohen, whose son and late husband both served in the Navy, is also treasurer of the ladies auxiliary of Jewish War Veterans, formerly at Fifth and Morris streets and now floating.
"This is my pleasure. I’m doing something other than for myself. It’s really my life," she said.
Last week, Cohen and other USO volunteers were up to their ears in 400 care packages for soldiers stationed in Iraq. The USO pre-screens all packages donated, then repackages them, Stanhope said. The organization also creates its own packages. The boxes are either shipped directly to Iraq or dropped off at McGuire to be handed out to soldiers boarding planes. In the last year, this USO affiliate sent out 50,000 care packages, Stanhope said.
Although putting together care packages is a large part of what the USO does, its lounge at Philly International is its main service. Equipped with a big-screen TV, computers and telephones for free calls anywhere in the United States, the lounge is a place where military and their family can relax before or after a trip. Hot food and beverages are served and there are three beds and a crib, as well as a children’s play area. For admission, military ID cards are required for those not in uniform.
The airport lounge that has served more than 50,000 travelers is also a Coast Guard muster. That branch of the military needed a centralized location for its recruits en route to basic training in Cape May, N.J. After the recruits land in Philly, they report to the USO lounge then board buses for basic training, Stanhope said.
"It’s pretty exciting to me to think that I could talk to any Coast Guardsmen in the world and know that they’ve been through this USO. That’s pretty significant to me," the director said.
Just in time for Veterans Day, the USO will debut a new print campaign whose slogan, "You’re free to help," is a pitch for more volunteers, as well as donations to further its service. Locally, TastyKake is a major contributor, Stanhope said.
"Our USO in Pennsylvania and South Jersey is dependent on the donations of individuals and corporations. That is how we raise our money," Stanhope said.
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For more information on the local USO, including how to volunteer or donate, call 215-365-8889 or e-mail director@libertyuso.org.
