By Sandi Moynihan and Eric Brandner

FORT BRAGG, North Carolina–There’s something about waking up early on volunteer days that Jerry Boeshore loves.

Maybe it’s the opportunity to serve a weary-eyed service member his first cup of coffee at the USO’s Fayetteville Airport center. Or maybe it’s the chance to help a young military spouse relax before a busy travel day.

“I can see it in their eyes that they [the USO guests] appreciate it,” Boeshore said. “It means something to them, you know?”

Boeshore, an Army veteran, knows firsthand how moments like the ones he helps create at the USO can leave lasting impressions on service members and their families. Boeshore visited his first USO center during boot camp in 1961. That positive experience led him to come back to volunteer with the USO once he retired from his civilian career.

“It was very relaxing and that always stood in my mind,” Boeshore said.

You can send a message of support and thanks directly to service members via the USO’s Campaign to Connect. Your messages will appear on screens at USO locations around the world.