ST. LOUIS MO ( KPLR ) -
The USO at Lambert Airport just got an upgrade courtesy of two local celebrities. The not-for-profit facility has been a home away from home for military and their families for nearly three decades. Now the James S. McDonnell USO facility has a three hundred thousand dollar renovation to give it more of a "club" atmosphere.
Rams quarterback Marc Bulger and 97.1 FM Talk radio host Dave Glover hatched the idea after sharing a couple of beers with former Marine and Iranian hostage Rocky Sickmann. Bulger and Glover organized a fund raising event and Bulger donated $150,000 to help meet the upgrade costs. They chose to dedicate the renovation in Sickmann's honor.
Bulger shied away from taking credit. " The more military I meet..they are the best people on earth," he said. This is just a small way to try to say thank you, but you can never entirely do that for those guys."
Speaking during a ceremony Wednesday marking the re-opening, Dave Glover described how he and Bulger are accustomed to the luxuries of airline clubs at airports. "I remember when we came here (to the USO) the first time the people were sleeping on chairs..their legs were hanging off and it was just unacceptable." The men decided the traveling troops and their families needed a more comfortable facility.
The facility now includes a renovated canteen, enlarged sleeping area with extra long twin beds, a media room offering leather recliners, a high tech cyber cafe, game area and a family nursery. A changing room was added so soldiers could easily slip into their uniforms before heading back to their base.
Hasting and Chevetta Architects donated the overall design. Korte Construction and Aschinger Electric completed the renovation.
The USO of Missouri serves the entire state and southern Illinois. Its 650 volunteers man the airport facility 24-7, a mobile canteen and a USO at Fort Leonard Wood southwest of Rolla. The not-for profit organization also hosts events for local military families and works to be a bridge between the military and the
Rams quarterback Marc Bulger and 97.1 FM Talk radio host Dave Glover hatched the idea after sharing a couple of beers with former Marine and Iranian hostage Rocky Sickmann. Bulger and Glover organized a fund raising event and Bulger donated $150,000 to help meet the upgrade costs. They chose to dedicate the renovation in Sickmann's honor.
Bulger shied away from taking credit. " The more military I meet..they are the best people on earth," he said. This is just a small way to try to say thank you, but you can never entirely do that for those guys."
Speaking during a ceremony Wednesday marking the re-opening, Dave Glover described how he and Bulger are accustomed to the luxuries of airline clubs at airports. "I remember when we came here (to the USO) the first time the people were sleeping on chairs..their legs were hanging off and it was just unacceptable." The men decided the traveling troops and their families needed a more comfortable facility.
The facility now includes a renovated canteen, enlarged sleeping area with extra long twin beds, a media room offering leather recliners, a high tech cyber cafe, game area and a family nursery. A changing room was added so soldiers could easily slip into their uniforms before heading back to their base.
Hasting and Chevetta Architects donated the overall design. Korte Construction and Aschinger Electric completed the renovation.
The USO of Missouri serves the entire state and southern Illinois. Its 650 volunteers man the airport facility 24-7, a mobile canteen and a USO at Fort Leonard Wood southwest of Rolla. The not-for profit organization also hosts events for local military families and works to be a bridge between the military and the
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