By Brittany Carlson/Staff writer Belvoir Eagle
The Fort Belvoir USO Warrior and Family Center will celebrate its first holiday season on post this winter, starting with a Christmas tree lighting event Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m.
Servicemembers and their Families are invited to watch the USO light an 18-foot Christmas tree in the USO lobby, enjoy hot chocolate, apple cider and refreshments, and visit with Santa Claus.
"This is our first year lighting the tree in the new center," said Pauline Ray, USO-Metro hospital services and entertainment manager, since the USO Warrior and Family Center first opened its doors in February.
The purpose of the event is "so we can show our support for the Fort Belvoir community and our military and to say thank you to our Families," she said.
The tree is a gift from KPMG, one of the big four accounting firms in the world and a USO partner, and will take up most of the USO's two-story lobby, said K.J. Stevens, Troops and Family Programs coordinator.
"The tree is phenomenal. It's going to be huge," she said.
KPMG will also provide decorations and volunteers to help decorate the tree, she said
"It's still pretty early in December, so it will be a nice kick-off to the holiday season on base. I think it will be a lot of fun," she said.
"We'll have Santa there, refreshments, food, holiday treats and fun festivities," Stevens added, along with crafts for children.
Stevens said she hopes to see a lot of military Families at the event.
"We're very excited. I think it will be a very fun Family event and we'd like to get the community out here," she said.
The USO Warrior and Family Center is the largest USO center ever built at 25,000 square feet. It provides military Families and wounded warriors with a variety of programs and recreational opportunities designed to help them heal, grow closer to their Families and promote overall wellbeing. The center is open to all active-duty military, including National Guard and Reserve, and their Families.
For more information, visit www.usometro.org.
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