Vought Employees Support USO Santa Sendoff

DALLAS. – Employees from Vought Aircraft Industries recently participated in their first-ever USO mission – Santa Sendoff -- as a way to support our nation’s troops.

The effort began with an internal fundraising effort for the mission. Vought contributed $5,000 toward the purchase of items for troop goodie bags, and employees kicked in an additional $1,500. Volunteers used the funds to buy a variety of items for the troops: prepaid calling cards, downloadable music cards, DVDs, CDs, bottled Starbucks coffee, microwaveable soups and chili, and assorted candies.

On Dec. 5, 15 Dallas-based employees (see photo) gathered at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport to wrap and stuff the items into homemade Christmas stockings, which were created by a local sewing group. The employees then spent several emotional hours with the troops –shaking hands, giving well wishes and handing out goodie bags to approximately 180 soldiers. The soldiers boarded a chartered aircraft later that day for a 30-hour flight to Kuwait and then on to Iraq and Afghanistan.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to participate in the USO Santa Sendoff,” said Cheryl Helms, Vought V-22 program manager. “With the recent deployment of the V-22, our team wanted to do something special to recognize the dedication of our troops. The USO’s program is a meaningful way for us to show our support and connect with people serving our country. It brings our everyday job ‘home’ and helps us to remember the importance of our day-to-day work. The response from everyone involved in this effort serves as a reminder of the significance we have in building quality parts for our military.”

About 20 Vought employees repeated this USO effort at DFW airport on Dec. 15 as well.

The USO is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to support the troops by providing morale, welfare and recreation-type services to our men and women in uniform. The original intent of Congress — and enduring style of USO delivery — is to represent the American people by extending a touch of home to the military. The USO currently operates more than 130 centers worldwide.