Despite a morning of frigid temperatures, Miss America 2014 took time out of her busy schedule to chat with service members at Fort Meade's USO-Metro on Jan. 22.
"It was outstanding," said Laura Dexter-Moody, Fort Meade's USO-Metro coordinator. "She brought a lot of warmth and sunshine on a very cold day."
Miss America -- Nina Davuluri -- greeted service members, signed autographs, posed for pictures and shared a bit of laughter.
Davuluri was in the area to promote science, technology, engineering and math education. The day before, she visited the offices of Google in Washington, D.C.
After leaving Fort Meade, Davuluri visited the USO-Metro at Fort Myer, Va.
The Miss America organization, which is based in Linwood, N.J., has had an ongoing relationship with USO-Metropolitan Washington for more than 20 years, according to Karen Nocella, business manager of the Miss America organization.
"We have a real nice relationship with USO-Metro," Nocella said. "Miss America goes at least once a year to a military installation. We give USO-Metro a heads-up when Miss America is in the area."
Davuluri said that Miss America has always been a patriotic symbol for the nation.
"It's always a pleasure to be able to work with the USO and visit with members of our military," she said. "[I want to give] a genuine, heartfelt thank you for their service.
"Words simply can't express my gratitude, but I'm so thankful to them for keeping us safe and allowing our nation the freedom and safety we may sometimes take for granted."
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