[caption id=“attachment_3684” align=“aligncenter” width=“500” caption=“Preparing to officially open the new Dahlgren USO Center at Naval Support Facility Dahlgren are (l. to r.) Mariellen Curtis, the center's manager; John Marselle, board chairman for USO of Metropolitan Washington; Caitlin Uze, Miss Virginia 2010; Capt. Catie Hanft, commanding officer for Naval Support Activity South Potomac; and Elaine Rogers, president of USO-Metro. (Photo by Gary Wagner)”][/caption]

USO of Metropolitan Washington recently opened a new center at Dahlgren Navy Base in Virginia and one of the highlights is the inclusion of a Sesame Street Room!

The Sesame Rooms project is an exciting extension of Sesame Workshop’s ongoing Talk, Listen, Connect program for military families and the one at Dahlgren will be completed within the next few months.  “The challenges our military and their families face today have never been greater,” Elaine Rogers, president of USO of Metropolitan Washington, explained during the opening ceremony.  “With this center, we hope to make a positive change in that process. We will do it through laughter, through activities and amenities and in ways the USO is known for bringing joy into people’s lives.”

One guest in particular stood out from the crowd of over 100 in attendance: Miss Virginia 2010, Caitlin Uze.  ‘‘All of America understands that because of what you do, we enjoy the freedom we have today,” said Uze in expressing her appreciation for the U.S. armed services.  ‘‘I take every opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to our military personnel and their families for the sacrifices they make for all of us.”

Other amenities at the Dahlgren USO Center include a TV area with movie library, free wi-fi throughout the building, computer stations with Internet, a gaming area with Xbox 360, and much more!  If you know of Troops and families traveling through this area, we invite you to let them know about this great new facility.

We’ll keep you posted on the progress of the Sesame Street Room.  In the meantime, click here to see what a difference the Sesame Room at McGuire AFB made for military families…and let us know what you think!