USO New England supports Hanscom servicemembers, families Published June 30, 2009 By Karen E. Guendel 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- This summer the United Service Organizations of New England is offering a variety of activities and programs designed to improve the quality of life for local military members and their families. Many of these programs are available at little or no cost to servicemembers. USO New England offers servicemembers free or discount tickets to many local attractions like sporting events, musical concerts and tours. These opportunities often come up on short notice or with limited availability so in addition to posting them on their website, USO New England uses the e-mail blast system to alert subscribers when opportunities arise. To subscribe to e-mail blast or to verify a subscription visit the USO New England website. One of this summer's major events will be tomorrow's annual Fourth of July Barbeque at the U.S. Coast Guard's Integrated Support Command located on Boston's historic waterfront. Attractions will include family friendly entertainment, activities for kids, food and a complimentary raffle. Visitors will be able to walk through a Mobile USO, a vehicle designed to give troops in remote areas of the U.S. a comfortable place to relax and connect with family and friends online. The barbeque location will also afford a good view of the USS Constitution's annual cruise into Boston Harbor with a 21-gun salute. Complimentary parking will be available on the Coast Guard base. In addition to supporting stateside servicemembers, USO New England supports deployed individuals and their families. In partnership with United Through Reading, a nonprofit organization, the USO unites physically separated families by recording deployed servicemembers reading stories aloud on DVD. servicemembers can then mail their DVDs home to their children. Recordings can be made at USO centers worldwide. Servicemembers deploying from the Boston area can record a DVD at USO New England before departure. Servicemembers who have recently returned from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan can apply through USO New England to spend two weeks vacationing with their families in an oceanfront home in Hampton, N.H. Families staying there pay only a nominal fee for utilities and cleaning; the newly built, fully furnished beach home is offered courtesy of a real estate management and investment company. USO New England is a chartered affiliate of the USO, a private, nonprofit organization. The USO was formed in 1941 in response to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's call for civilian organizations to address the recreational needs of U.S. Armed Forces members on leave. Ever since, the USO's mission has been to provide morale, welfare and recreation services to servicemembers and their families. Currently the USO operates over 130 centers in 9 countries, 21 states and the District of Columbia. USO New England currently provides "a touch of home" at two local Welcome Centers. USO New England Headquarters and Welcome Center in downtown Boston offers a relaxing environment with an internet café and an array of printed materials on area attractions. The Welcome Center at Logan International Airport in Terminal C serves as a comfortable lounge for military members and their families passing through Boston. For more information about any of USO New England's programs or to volunteer visit www.uso-newengland.org.