Honoring a Family’s Legacy of Service: How Gerry Shows His Commitment to Service Members With the USO

Ask anyone traveling through an airport and they’ll tell you it can be a bit of a hassle. But for service members, an airport can mark the beginning of a deployment, a long-awaited homecoming or the first uncertain steps of military service.

For service members traveling through Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), the USO Center there offers more than just a place to rest – it’s a home away from home. Behind every warm greeting, hot cup of coffee and moment of comfort is a dedicated USO Volunteer who makes it possible. For Gerry McConnell, serving as a USO volunteer means creating a welcoming space where service members can feel appreciated and supported.

“I’ve always held the military in high regard,” Gerry said. “Basically, anybody that’s willing to put their life on the line for me, and to take care of my family, how could you not appreciate that person?”

Gerry began volunteering at the USO at Philadelphia International Airport in October 2023 after retiring from a 35-year career in financial services. Inspired by a long family history of military service – including his father, who served in the Mediterranean campaign during World War II – he saw volunteering with the USO as a meaningful way to give back.

“I’ve always regretted never serving, I just feel like I needed to do something to give back and support these folks, and that was on my list of things to do once I retired,” Gerry said. “The last two generations, father and grandfather, served in the military, and I just felt like I just needed to do something too … Even though I didn’t maintain the tradition, the family tradition, I just felt like I needed to do something.”

Now, over a year into his volunteer service with the USO, Gerry remains committed. Twice a month, he makes the 35-mile trip to the airport, where people passing through the USO Center will most likely find him at the front desk, greeting service members and military spouses, and making them feel welcome and at ease while they rest and take a breather amid their travels. But the impact of the USO at Philadelphia International Airport extends far beyond a rest stop. This airport Center is unique in that it also serves as the muster point for Coast Guard recruits before they begin training at Training Center Camp May, New Jersey, 97 miles away.

For these young recruits, a simple conversation with a USO Volunteer like Gerry can make all the difference. Many are leaving home for the first time, feeling a mix of anxiety and excitement. In these small moments, a kind word and a friendly face can offer much-needed reassurance.

“They’re always appreciating what I do, and what we all do for them, and I’ve never been in that situation, where pretty much 100% of the people you interact with appreciate what you do for them. And that makes me want to just go to the wall for these guys and what they do.”

Gerry’s work with the USO also carries a personal connection. His father found solace in the USO during his service in World War II, a fact he learned from his late mother.

“My mom wrote a little kind of diary before she passed away, and she talked about how my father enjoyed going to the USO events when he was over in Europe,” Gerry said. “My dad actually took part in the services that the USO offered, and my mom was actually a participant with the USO. So, I guess in a way, I’m keeping that tradition going now, so it’s pretty fulfilling for me.”

Gerry continues to give his time to the military community through his service with the USO. When it comes to anyone looking to become a USO Volunteer, he says that one should be outgoing, friendly and have the ability to engage and take care of the needs of anyone who comes to the USO. Since each visitor who comes to the USO has a unique story, volunteers must be ready to offer support in whatever way is needed.

One moment from his volunteering that has stood out to Gerry is when a mother traveling with young children entered the Center, clearly overwhelmed by the challenges of navigating an airport alone.

“I guarantee she’s trying to go from point A to point B, there’s a lot of stress in her life right now. You just want to make her feel at home, make her feel like you’re going to drop everything to help her,” Gerry said. “That’s the kind of feeling that you want them to have, is that when they walk through that door, they got to feel like they’re in a safe place and that people in there are going to care about them. That’s really important – that you make people feel that way.”

As Gerry carries on volunteering at the USO at Philadelphia International Airport, he will continue to extend that same level of concern and thoughtfulness to every patron entering the USO Center. Because for him, every shift is an opportunity to give back, honor his family’s legacy and to express gratitude to service members, ensuring that they are never alone on their journey.

Are you interested in giving back to the people who serve and volunteering with the USO? Learn more about what it means to be a USO Volunteer and if there’s a USO Center near you by clicking here!