ST. LOUIS, Feb. 07, 2001 -- Pat Finneran, Boeing vice president and general manager of U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Programs, recently took over the helm as president of the James S. McDonnell USO based at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.
"When asked if I'd be willing to fill a spot on the board of directors, I jumped at the chance to give something back to the USO," Finneran said.
Finneran, a former U.S. Marine, a Vietnam veteran and father of a Marine Corps officer, says he knows what it means for a service member away from home to have a welcoming place to rest.
"The USO provides a safe, comfortable place for thousands of servicemen and women and their families as they transit through Lambert Field," Finneran said. "Whether they're based at Scott Air Force Base, Fort Leonard Wood or just passing through, we want them to know how much we appreciate the daily sacrifices they make for all of us. It's our way of making them feel at home during their brief stay in St. Louis."
More than 2 million servicemen and women and their 3 million dependents have utilized the James S. McDonnell USO since it opened in 1981. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the USO and the 20th anniversary of the James S. McDonnell USO.
One of Finneran's goals in this anniversary year is to increase awareness of and support for the USO in the St. Louis community. "We're considering several major events to show our appreciation-first to the men and women in the U.S. military for their sacrifices, and also to the community for its generosity," he said.
The USO is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization. For more information about the James S. McDonnell USO, visit its website at www.usostl.org.
01-20