USO hosts anniversary celebration Published Sept. 8, 2016 By Staff Sgt. Rachel Kocin 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- The USO of Northern Ohio hosted a 75th Anniversary Celebration here, Aug. 6, 2016. The event was held in Hangar 305 and featured military displays, an 18-piece swing band, nationally-recognized Bob Hope impersonator Lynn Roberts and a patriotic vocal performance by Melanie Miller, the only person ever crowned as both Miss Ohio (2006) and Mrs. Ohio (2011). The hangar party was a casual affair to not only celebrate the diamond anniversary of the USO but also to familiarize guests with the air station and the USO. “It was very nice, the band was superb, everything kept with the theme and it was very appropriate,” said Tech. Sgt. Mike Woodall, a Readiness Non-commissioned officer with the 910th Airlift Wing Airman and Family Readiness Center. “Everything flowed, the food was great, all the acts were really good, the singers were very good. I was very happy with it.” Bruce Bille is the Second Vice President of the USO of Northern Ohio and Youngstown Air Reserve Station’s USO Support Office Director. He helped coordinate the event. “The USO was established in 1941, at the request of President Roosevelt, with the purpose to provide morale and recreational programs to the military,” said Bille. Bille said the purpose of the celebration was to make Airmen aware of the USO’s services and community outreach to let people in the community know how they can support Airmen through the USO. According to Bille, the USO is planning another program, United Through Reading. It will allow military personnel to record audio readings of books for their children to listen to while the parent is deployed. According to the USO’s website, “The USO lifts the spirits of America’s troops and their families.”