FORT BELVOIR, Va. (NOV. 27) -- There may be no place like home for the holidays, but Fort Belvoir's USO Warrior and Family Center offered single servicemembers the next best thing Nov. 20 -- a Thanksgiving meal with friends and special visits from Miss Virginia and Miss Maryland.
The "Holiday Away From Home Dinner," sponsored by CACI, served single and geographically single servicemembers turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn and pumpkin pie, with a side of celebrity, to ease the hardship of being away from home this Thanksgiving.
"A lot of single servicemembers are really far from their Families and, especially in a place like this, we (know) they can't go home for the holidays all the time. We like to try and be their community and their home away from home, so we're inviting them all in, they get to socialize, they get a really delicious meal, and be appreciated," said K.J. Stevens, USO troops and programs coordinator.
Marine Cpl. Dugan Flanders, who works for the Joint Personal Property Shipping Office, Mid Atlantic, on Fort Belvoir, said he found out about the event from a flyer on his door the day before and knew he had to come.
"I was like, 'I can't miss a free dinner,' he said. "This is my third Thanksgiving without going home. This is great. You can't beat free food."
During dinner Miss Virginia 2013, Desiree Williams, and Miss Maryland 2013, Christina Denny, chatted with servicemembers and posed for some photos.
Spc. Kristy Goodrich, B Company, U.S. Army Element South Troop Command, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, spent some time making jokes with the pageant winners.
"It's really nice that they come out and donate their time like this. They're giving back and it's nice to see," she said.
For Spc. Ruby Castro Rodriguez, Headquarters, U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command, the holiday meal underscored the fact that single servicemembers have a new Familiy in their comrades in arms.
"It gives them a chance to feel like they're at home so they feel comfortable and make new friends and have that bond," she said. "It's a chance for everybody to get together and come together as one."
For more information on upcoming USO events, visit the USO-Metro Facebook page.
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