November, 2012

October, 2012

January, 2012

1-7-2011 Vietnam Veteran Celebration – Charlotte NC On March 31, 2012, the USO of North Carolina, the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters and Charlotte Motor Speedway will host a Vietnam Veteran Celebration event at the Speedway.

1-5-2012 Home for the Holidays Brings Winter to AMCC Residents The community center provided other winter activities to include hayrides throughout the majestically-lit housing area and an opportunity to film a holiday greeting to send to deployed loved ones through the Smiles Over Miles program hosted by the USO of North Carolina – Jacksonville Center.

December, 2011

12-23-2011 Letters To The Editor Welcome Home, Vietnam Veterans On March 31, the USO of North Carolina and Charlotte Motor Speedway will host the Vietnam Veterans Homecoming Celebration for 2012 at the speedway.

12-22-2011 USO Hosts Holiday Meal The USO of North Carolina will host its annual Christmas dinner for active duty military, retirees and their families who cannot be home for the holidays.

12-20-2011 Pitts: Charlotte Motor Speedway to Thank Vietnam Veterans in March Next year, folks in Charlotte will throw a celebration that has a familiar ring: They will officially welcome home veterans of the Vietnam War.

12-18-2011 USO Holds Event for Military Families at RDU Raleigh-Durham International Airport was packed with military families Saturday, celebrating their holiday in the hangar.

12-18-2011 Army Recruits Going Home for Christmas A couple thousand U.S. Army Recruits went through the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport this past weekend.

12-17-2011 USO Spreads Holiday Cheer at RDU for Military Families The USO of North Carolina, Raleigh-Durham International Airport Center is spreading holiday cheer to military families.

12-16-2011 Community Service Spotlight The Pantry’s Kangaroo Express Giving back through community service efforts and charity donations is a positive force that keeps many retailers and suppliers of this industry moving ahead.

12-16-2011 Vietnam Veterans Homecoming It’s promising to be the largest public event in North Carolina history.

12-16-2011 Charlotte Charity Donates $50k to USO More than 2,000 members of the military will pass through the USO Center at Charlotte Douglas Saturday as they make their ways home for holiday leave.

12-15-2011 North Carolina Broadcasters Join Forces to Fete Vietnam Vets Broadcasters across North Carolina are thanking veterans of the Vietnam War for their service in a significant way with an all-day event planned for March 31, along with a telecast that most TV stations across the state, and the majority of radio outlets, plan to air live.

12-15-2011 Vietnam Veterans Homecoming Planned For Charlotte It’s promising to be the largest public event in North Carolina history.

12-15-2011 March 2012 NC Will Hold Homecoming Celebration For Vietnam Vets The war has long since been over, but Vietnam Veterans never got the welcoming American Troops do today.

12-14-2011 USO of North Carolina Feeds Thousands Prior to President Obama Visit to Fort Bragg President Obama traveled to Fort Bragg, N.C., to personally welcome home nearly 3,000 troops and share the homecoming with their families as the country concludes its nearly nine-year war in Iraq.

12-14-2011 Kangaroo Express Welcomes Returning Fort Bragg Soldiers The Pantry Inc. is joining the USO of North Carolina in welcoming more that 200 men and women returning to Fort Bragg with breakfast before they are addressed by President Barack Obama on Wednesday, Dec. 14.

12-13-2011 Kangaroo Express Joins USO of N.C. to Welcome Returning Fort Bragg Soldiers The Pantry, Inc., the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern United States, today announced it is joining the USO of North Carolina in welcoming more than 200 men and women returning to Fort Bragg with breakfast before they are addressed by President Barack Obama on Wednesday, Dec. 14.

12-13-2011 USO of NC Helps Bring Military Families Together for the Holidays Dressed in fatigues, Santa and Mrs. Claus made early appearances in Charlotte and Raleigh for military families.

12-13-2011 Greensboro Store Donates 6,000 Comic Books to Troops Soldiers stationed at Fort Bragg recently got some comic relief, thanks to a Greensboro store.

12-12-2011 USO Works to Raise Funds After Promised Match From Levine Family The USO of North Carolina is trying to raise $50,000 for a matching grant offered by the Levine family in Charlotte.

12-8-2011 Christmas Flotilla Welcomes Santa to Sea As the sun set, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Onslow County residents lined the docks in front of the USO of North Carolina Jacksonville Center and eagerly awaited the beginning of what has become a Christmas tradition for many and was a new adventure for others.

12-7-2011 John Parr Sings Old Hits, New Songs at USO In an emotional show at the USO of North Carolina, Jacksonville Center, British singer and songwriter John Parr spoke about his deep affection for the military and America, Dec. 3.

12-1-2011 Fort Bragg USO to Host Free Reading and Study Skills Seminar Military families can get a leg up this weekend with teaching children to read.

12-1-2011 A Taste of Home: USO Serves Thanksgiving Meal to Marines Service members may know the sting of being away from those they care about during the holiday season, but they received a taste of home as they were served traditional Thanksgiving meals at the USO of North Carolina Jacksonville Center, Nov. 24.

November, 2011
11-30-2011 Floating on the New River Downtown Jacksonville gets all lit up for the holiday.

11-29-2011 USO of NC Hosts Concert for Airmen This year, the USO of North Carolina is helping Airmen celebrate in an even bigger way.

11-29-2011 USO Center Gets A $50,000 Matching Grant The USO center at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport got some welcome news during the start of its holiday rush of troops after Leon and Sandra Levine and Howard Levine announced a joint $50,000 challenge grant for the center.

11-28-2011 Improbable Entrepreneur Launches Online Military Resource: Savings4Soldiers.com Williams created the website based on his experiences as a volunteer with the USO of North Carolina and his admiration for the military community.

11-25-2011 Thanksgiving at Charlotte Motor Speedway USO of North Carolina and Lowe’s partnered efforts to produce the hugely successful Military Thanksgiving Dinner at the Charlotte Motor Speedway

11-24-2011 Feeding the Masses For an ordinary family, preparing one turkey and all the fixings in time for Thanksgiving can be a challenging task.

11-23-2011 Thanksgiving Meals Available for Service Members While plenty of service members are on their way home for the Thanksgiving holiday, there are still plenty of places itching to provide comfort and a slice of home to service members and their families.

11-23-2011 Vouchers Provide Financial Relief During Holiday Season Every year, thousands of people look forward to the winter holiday season. However, there are many who dread Thanksgiving and Christmas because they can’t afford to give their families the holiday meal they want.

11-23-2011 As Holidays Near, USO-NC’s Needs Great For 70 years, the USO of North Carolina has provided more than a respite – offering an array of services for troops and their families.

11-22-2011 Charlotte Observer Photos USO of North Carolina’s Charlotte Center

11-21-2011 Kangaroo Express Opens DQ Orange Julius Giveaways, donations celebrate grand opening in Cameron, N.C.

11-21-2011 USO Opens at the Coastal Carolina Regional Airport! They also celebrated the addition of a USO of North Carolina desk at the airport, a resource they are proud to have available for our local military personnel as they arrive and depart the New Bern area.

11-19-2011 New Bern Airport Celebrates 80 Years The birthday party also will be used to cut the ribbon and officially welcome the USO of North Carolia operation at Coastal Carolina, said Tom Braaten, airport director.

11-17-2011 Dessert Donations Needed for USO-NC Holiday Dinner The USO of NC in Jacksonville needs more help in making their holiday dinners happen.

11-17-2011 Bluegrass Jam Sessions Held at USO of NC From “front-porch pickers” to professional musicians, community members gather at the USO of North Carolina, Jacksonville Center to share their love for bluegrass music.

11-16-2011 USO of North Carolina Opens Its Newest Travel Center The opening of the newest USO of NC Travel Center at the Fayetteville Regional Airport, 70 years after the USO opened its first USO Center in Fayetteville.

11-15-2011 Soldier’s Wife Shocked by Husband’s Return from Iraq On Monday night, like many Americans, the Jorgensen family was at home watching television. But a day earlier, Andrea, Joe, and their five young children had an experience unlike any other inside Bank of America Stadium in uptown Charlotte.

11-11-2011 Connie Stevens Headlines USO of NC Show Performing for the troops is nothing new for Connie Stevens.

11-08-2011 Harris Teeter, Carolina Panther Collect Holiday Dinners Other shows of support for military service members and their families by Harris Teeter include selling $1 and $7 donation cards in May to raise money to buy Smiles Over Miles account cards that were placed at USO centers.

11-09-2011 Quick Takes: USO’s Roomful of Thanks It may not have all the comforts of home, but the new USO North Carolina Fayetteville Regional Airport Center has a lot of them – including, some of the time, the smiling faces of family members.

11-08-2011 USO Holds Ribbon-Cutting for Lounge at Fayetteville Regional Airport For the first time since 1986, Fayetteville has a USO for traveling soldiers.

11-07-2011 USO Opens New Center at Fayetteville Airport The organization dedicated to providing American troops a chance for rest and relaxation is opening its newest outpost at the Fayetteville Regional Airport.

11-07-2011 USO Opens new Center at Fayetteville Airport The USO of North Carolina plans to hold a grand opening ceremony Monday for its third travel center in the state.

11-06-2011 Donations Needed for Holiday Meals at USO The USO of North Carolina, Jacksonville Center needs donations for this year’s Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for the troops.

11-05-2011 Saluting War Heroes WWII Medal of Honor recipient welcomes opportunity to stand in for fallen friends.

11-04-2011 ‘Good Morning Vietnam’ Inspiration Reflects on Veteran’s Struggles The man who was the inspiration behind the 1980s movie “Good Morning Vietnam” will be a special guest at Heroes Homecoming events in Fayetteville.

11-03-2011 Camp Lejeune Marines Take Oath of Enlistment During Panthers NFL Game Sunday, during Minnesota Vikings vs. Carolina Panthers NFL Military Appreciation Day game at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC, more than 50 service members swore to uphold and defend the constitution of the United States in front of more than 70,000 screaming fans.

11-02-2011 Welcome – Heroes Homecoming a Grand Salute to Vietnam Vets At a news conference about a year ago, announcing the Heroes Homecoming observance, veteran Bob Graveen talked about his return to the U.S. from Vietnam.

11-01-2011 Purple Heart Homes Honored with Carolinas Freedom Foundation Freedom Award; Serves as Grand Marshal at US Airways Salute to Veterans Parade The United Services Organizations (USO) of North Carolina and Operation Homefront of North Carolina are awarded with Special Achievement Awards.

October, 2011
10-27-2011 Ghost Walk Kicks Off The crowd that gathered at the USO of NC Jacksonville Center was unusually dead on Tuesday night.

10-14-2011 USO of N.C. Celebrates 70th Anniversary and Honors Six N.C. Servicemembers The honoring of six North Carolina servicemembers was the highlight of the USO of North Carolina’s 70th anniversary at the Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, N.C., Oct. 7.

September, 2011
9-22-2011 Lt. Dan Band Lifts Spirits An actor claiming to be a musician is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re going to get. But if that actor is Gary Sinise, you have nothing to worry about.

9-21-2011 USO of North Carolina Hosts Educational Seminar For Military Children And Parents The seminars are free for military families of all branches and participants will be entered for the chance to win giveaways at each event.

9-19-2011 Know Any Deployed North Carolina Soldiers? “This place can be a real downer at times with all the sadness and stress, so just know that each item you sent brought us some relief.”

9-18-2011 Conversations with Newsmakers: USO (of NC) Ready for Expansion at Fayetteville Regional Airport Renee Lane, director of the USO Center on Fort Bragg, will oversee the opening of the USO North Carolina Fayetteville Travel Center at Fayetteville Regional Airport.

9-16-2011 Country Music Freedom Festival Offers Great Tunes in Support of the Troops The debut a new local festival will bring country music fans together in support of the nation’s military.

9-14-2011 Children’s Author Romain Talks to Fort Bragg Students About Deployments, Injuries Trevor Romain had a message for Fort Bragg children.

9-14-2011 The Pantry’s Salute Our Troops Campaign Tops $2M Labor Day not only brought the official end to summer, but it also brought The Pantry Inc.’s “Salute Our Troops” fundraising campaign to a close.

9-14-2011 Pantry’s ‘Salute Our Troops’ Raises $2.5 Million; Military Families Invited to Cary Event A chain of convenience stores is inviting military families to a free event in Cary to celebrate the success of a fundraising drive.

9-13-2011 Jacksonville Crown: Tonya Shaw Competes in Mrs. North Carolina The Mrs. America system is the first pageant for married women; competing are mothers, doctors, lawyers, auto mechanics and, in Shaw’s case, marine wives who have endured the struggle and sacrifices of deployment and service.

9-8-2011 Area Prepares for 9/11 Remembrances In remembrance of the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, communities and organizations have planned a variety of public memorials and commemorations this weekend.

9-8-2011 Adrian Cronauer to be Part of Welcome Home Event for Vietnam Veterans Inspiration Behind ‘Good Morning, Vietnam’ Announced as Spokesperson for Heroes Homecoming, 10-day Celebration Leading up to Veterans Day 2011.

9-7-2011 Towers Run Remembers 9/11 Victim The USO of North Carolina is partnering with the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation by sponsoring a 5k Run/Walk on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11.

9-6-2011 USO of NC Helps Military Families Cope During Multiple Deployments The 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 10 attacks also means our country has been at war for nearly just as long.

August, 2011
8-30-2011 What Happened t Wilson After FNR Went Off the Air Wilson was at the Kangaroo Express on Rea Road on Tuesday to raise funds for the USO.

8-30-2011 Wilson Mans the Gas Pumps to Raise Money for the USO Wilson was at the Kangaroo Express on Rae Road today manning the pumps and scaring ladies while he was helping to raise money for the USO.

8-29-2011 Lake Norman Beer Festival Set For Sept. 17 The 2011 Lake Norman Beer Festival will showcase craft beers from local, national and international brewers.

8-24-2011 USO of NC Jacksonville Center to Hold “Tunnel to Tower” Run Calling all  runners. The USO of North Carolina Jacksonville Center is encouraging you to sign up for the tunnel to tower run.

8-17-2011 NightRide USA USO NC $25K Aircheck!! Here is an aircheck from NightRide USA with John Falkenbury, President of USO North Carolina.

8-11-2011 Charlotte Top Fundraiser In Troops Campaign A marsupial mascot store chain and a World War II jeep are pulling in some good money for the troops this summer.

8-11-2011 “Salute Our Troops” Jeep To Travel Through Myrtle Beach Salute Our Troops has raised more than $1.35 million for the USO, USO of North Carolina, Wounded Warrior Project and state-based military support organizations.

8-9-2011 Jeep Campaign Stops In Jacksonville A 1952 military Jeep rolled into town on Monday on a mission of charity.

8-8-2011 Salute Our Troops Tour Trvels Through Wilmington, Supply The Salute Our Troops fully-refurbished 1952 Willys CJ-3 Jeep will travel through Wilmington Tuesday and Wednesday to raise awareness and donations for the campaign.

8-4-2011 Beauty Queens Attend Storytime With Princesses Dressed in their royal best, little princesses and their parents gathered at the Jacksonville USO for “A Very Royal Tuesday Storytime,” August 2.

8-4-2011 Jeep Tour Raises Over $1.35 Million With temps soaring to 100 on Wednesday, a crowd gathered to “Salute Our Troops” at the Davis Drive Kangaroo gas station in Morrisville.

8-3-2011 Salute Our Troops Jeep Tour The Salute Our Troops Jeep Tour is coming to Morrisville on Wednesday, August 3!

July, 2011
7-31-2011 Miss North Carolina to Host Storytime Miss North Carolina will visit the USO of North Carolina’s Jacksonville Center Monday for a special storytime event for children.

7-26-2011 Wilson Hitches A Ride On The USO Jeep Tour Jon Wilson was at the Kangaroo Express on Harris Blvd today where the USO Jeep Tour was making a stop.

7-21-2011 Ashton Shepard To Headline Free Harbor Nights Concert The USO of North Carolina wants to make its presence know in Elizabeth City.

7-21-2011 USO of NC Offers Ballroom Dance Every third Saturday, the USO holds the monthly event for anyone wanting to participate.

7-11-2011 Help Fill That Bus Bring your food and toiletry donations to support the Second Harvest Food Bank and the USO of NC’s Rack Pack program for single soldiers.

7-11-2011 Heroes, Hearts & Hardhats Music Festival The USO of North Carolina will be on hand with their NC mobile unit and will be collecting non-perishable food and travel-sized personal hygiene items for care packages for troops travelling overseas.

7-10-2011 USO Wounded Warrior Conferences On September 14, USO and Wounded Warriors, in collaboration with USO of North Carolina, is hosting its second annual USO Wounde Warrior Family and Caregivers Conference at Ft. Bragg, NC.

7-8-2011 “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”: What You Need To Know The USO of NC and the Army’s Army have parntered on a “Rack Pack Drive” that will be distributed to Fort Bragg single soldiers when they return from deployment

7-7-2011 USO of NC Wants Your Used Electronics The USO of North Carolina, Jacksonville is teaming up with Walmart and UpCycle4Hope to collect used electronic equipment that can either be reused or recycled.

7-7-2011 USO of NC Jacksonville Center Celebrates 70 Years of Service For the USO in Jacksonville, North Carolina, the helping hand has become wrinkled through the years, but its mission to help and support has only blossomed.

7-1-2011 USO North Carolina 70th Anniversary Documentary Series Airing on Time Warner Cable’s Carolina On Demand A unique 13-episode series celebrating the USO of North Carolina’s 70th Anniversary is now available on Carolina On Demand.

7-1-2011 Who Else But Wilson Could Get Into a Snowball Fight in July? Wilson Previews the “Great American Snow Day” at the Extreme Ice Center.

June, 2011
6-30-2011 Ghost Hunters Investigate USO A team of ghost hunters with the South East Paranormal Investigators Association partook in a preliminary investigation at the Jacksonville USO, June 24.

6-30-2011 UpCycle4Hop Raises Money for USO This was the first of many fundraising events that will be held throughout North Carolina in order to raise money to donate to the USO of North Carolina.

6-30-2011 Kangaroo Express Achieves “Salute Our Troops” Campaign $1 Million Fundraising Goal Campaign continues through summer as goal achieved well ahead of schedule to benefit military non-profit organizations.

May  2011
5-26-2011 Local USO Stands as Beacon fo Military Families Volunteers take time to reflect on efforts as Memorial Day approaches.

March, 2011

3-30-2011 USO Lounge at Fayetteville Airport Gets Green Light  The USO of NC will open an airport lounge in the Fayetteville Airport for the first time since the mid 1980’s.

3-25-2011 USO Renovates Facilities at RDU The USO of NC, RDU Center opens new airport lounge at RDU Airport Terminal 2

3-25-2011 Lopez Promotes Book; Supports Military Actor Mario Lopez promoted his new children’s book by reading it to children of military families.

3-21-2011 Non-Profits Pack Care Kits for N.C. Troops Heading to Afghanistan  USO of NC, Blue Star Mothers of North Carolina, and the Raleigh Tennis Association packed more than 300 care packs for deploying military.

3-13-2011 The US Armed Forces and the USO  Heart of Carolina Perspectives – New USO of North Carolina, RDU Center opening at RDU Airport Terminal 2.

3-13-2011 Armed Forces Salutes: Terry Grimes  USO of NC Volunteer dedicates time to helping troops.

February, 2011

2-27-2011 Community Rushes to Aid After Marine’s Home Burns  USO of NC, Jacksonville Center assists local military family that lost their home to a devastating fire.

2-27-2011 North Carolina USO in Focus of Upcoming TV Series  Dashboard Productions will produce a 13-episode series honoring the USO of North Carolina’s 70^th Anniversary.

December, 2010

12-25-2010 USO of North Carolina Will Use Grant To Expand Facilities At RDU The Cannon Foundation has awarded a $95,000 grant to the USO of North Carolina.

12-22-2010 Life in the Carolinas: 2010 Christmas Special, Part 4  Christmas Special interview with John Falkenbury, President of the USO of NC.

12-20-2010 Fayetteville Regional Airport May Get USO Center  A small USO of NC center may be coming to Fayetteville Regional Airport.

12-10-2010 Snowball Express Takes Children of Fallen Soldiers on Holiday Vacation   USO of NC attended the 5^th Annual Snowball Express departure.

12-9-2010 Military Families Board the Snowball Express   USO of NC attended the 5^th Annual Snowball Express departure.

12-9-2010 Kids of War Victims Get Free Trip on ‘Snowball Express’   USO of NC attended the 5^th Annual Snowball Express departure.

12-2-2010 Servicemembers Reenlist at Carolina Panther’s Game Over 40 servicemember reenlist at Bank of America Charlotte Stadium.

November, 2010

11-22-2010 Carolina Christmas Lights Go on Tonight at Charlotte Motor Speedway  Military families and USO of NC attend the only all LED light park to celebrate holiday season.

11-13-2010 Sat. Extra: Kirby – Fundraisers Highlight Benevolence Weekend  USO of NC, Fort Bragg Center has inaugural “Freedom Ride.”