USO Northern California at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) will begin welcoming visitors again to a new USO center on Wednesday, September 30, following a small socially distanced ribbon cutting ceremony, offering military service members and their families a brand new home away from home in Northern California. The USO’s previous facility suspended operations in March due to the pandemic.
The new USO center, located in the recently completed new Harvey Milk Terminal 1, is approximately 5,300 square feet, allowing the USO to provide traveling military a premier first-class airport lounge hospitality with versatile amenities during their visit.
“We are proud to reopen our doors and provide a warm and welcoming experience for over 30,000 service members who travel through the San Francisco Bay Area each year,” said Monique August, Executive Director of USO Northern California. “We are extremely grateful for our partnership with San Francisco International Airport, who worked seamlessly with the USO to create a new center that blends the USO’s almost 80 years of tradition serving our troops with the technology and amenities that keeps them connected to family, home and country.”
“We are thrilled to welcome military service members and their families to the new USO center in Harvey Milk Terminal 1,” said Airport Director Ivar C. Satero. “Our goal is to create the best airport experience for our guests, and this new USO facility reflects that vision for the men and women of our Armed Forces. We thank the dedicated team from the USO for making this reopening a reality.”
Amenities for visiting troops and their families at the USO SFO center includes: a cafe snack bar and dining area, charging stations and accessible Wi-Fi to help visitors stay connected with loved ones, a dedicated family room for service members traveling with their children, a gaming room, internet and TV lounge, a quiet room with lounge chairs, and an expanded luggage storage area.
The new center was made possible by a partnership with the San Francisco Airport to fund construction costs and the USO to fund the interior furnishings, fixtures and appliances. All services, food and beverages are provided at no cost to current members of the military and their dependent family members thanks to thousands of generous USO donors, large and small, and a team of over 100 USO volunteers. The facility operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week under normal operating hours. During the COVID-19 pandemic, hours and capacity will be adjusted to follow all city, state and USO guidelines.
“For nearly 80 years, the USO has continued to set the standard in serving the men and women of our military and their families,” said USO West President, Bob Kurkjian, an officer in the Navy reserve himself. “We are proud to continue that tradition with this expanded state-of-the-art facility allowing us to serve thousands of more troops and keep them connected to the people, places, and values they cherish during these challenging times.”
USO Northern California has supported the USO mission for over 54 years at USO SFO by offering a variety of programs and outreach initiatives to ease the challenges of service for military service members residing in and traveling through the San Francisco Bay Area. These programs include Families of the Fallen, Meals4Military, Welcome Homes and more. During the COVID-19 pandemic and the wildfires devastating Northern California, the USO expanded services and support through quarantine kits, family activity boxes, mask distribution and snacks, meals and supplies provided to military on the front lines. To donate, volunteer or explore sponsorship opportunities, please visit northerncalifornia.uso.org.
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