American Legion Post 21 of The Colony, Texas, recently joined forces with the Blue Star Mothers of America-Yellow Rose TX20 and USO volunteers to give the USO spaces at the Dallas Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) a much-needed makeover.
On the day of service, 14 volunteers rolled up their sleeves to clean, tape, spackle, paint and assemble furniture - transforming two game rooms and a small theater into welcoming spaces for future servicemembers.
For recruits, the MEPS experience can be long and demanding, often lasting up to 12 hours as they undergo medical exams, aptitude testing, career counseling and the swearing-in ceremony. During breaks, they depend on the USO areas to relax, play pool and video games, make phone calls or watch a movie.
“Unfortunately, it looked like the rooms had not been updated in several years,” said Stephanie Manchen, a proud Blue Star Mom and the USO project leader. “These young men and women are raising their hand and promising to protect all of us. The least we can do is make their time here a little more pleasant.”
In addition to painting, the volunteers assembled new furniture to replace old and worn-out chairs and couches, creating a more comfortable and inviting atmosphere for recruits.
Eight hours later, the team was tired but proud of the results. “We all went through the process at one time or another,” said Commander Mary Garcia. “For our Legionnaires to give up their entire day to ensure the comfort of these young people makes me proud to be the commander of Post 21.”
The project reflects the ongoing commitment of Holley-Riddle Post 21 and the Blue Star Mothers to support servicemembers at every stage of their journey - from enlistment to deployment and beyond.