USO Wisconsin Provides a Home Away this Winter

USO supported dinners on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve to service members stationed at Fort McCoy. Over the past several months, service members from across the United States have been stationed at Ft. McCoy in Sparta, Wisconsin to assist with the support of evacuees from Afghanistan as part of Operation Allies Welcome. Their duty was often arduous, so when the USO provided some much-needed holiday fun, spirits were lifted. Hearty meals were served for Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve holidays, and on New Year’s Eve, a USO casino-themed game night with pizza, raffle prizes, music for dancing and karaoke really hit the spot! Service members came for the New Year’s Eve countdown and celebrated with sparkling apple juice.

“With this deployment in Wisconsin I appreciate having a fun place to go and celebrate as we are separated from our families and pretty distant to the nearest town,” said a grateful service member.

Military families braved a snowstorm to enjoy a USO holiday-themed event in Milwaukee. Bright, decorated trees candy-cane arches, gingerbread men and toy soldiers set the scene. Military kids enjoyed making holiday ornaments, wearable holiday crafts, and crafted picture frames to celebrate the snowy evening. Then a surprise visitor jingled in all the way from the North Pole – Santa, himself.

One attendee shared, “I would like to thank (the USO) for hosting the holiday party last night. COVID has been tough on our family, and we needed this extra boost of holiday goodness this year.”