THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 18, 1995 TAG: 9511181642
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHARLENE CASON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
Bob Hope and his Hollywood beauties may not be sending holiday greetings from Hampton Roads this Christmas, but deployed armed forces service members will still be entertained by an eager band of well-wishers.
Sailors and airmen on Christmas morning can get a glimpse of their loved ones back home in an hourlong video that will be made at a party this morning.
The third annual USO Holiday Show will take place at 10 a.m. at the Norfolk Naval Air Station. The event includes pre-show activities and post-show activities, so the entire program lasts from 9 a.m. until noon.
``This is important, especially for the holidays, because moms and dads make a conscious decision to sign up for the service,'' said Gail Young, deputy director of the USO in Hampton Roads.
``Children often make that a package deal, and sometimes their parents aren't there for a holiday.''
The USO Show, co-sponsored by the 54-year-old service organization, Cox Communications and Paramount's King's Dominion, is for families whose active-duty military members are deployed during the holidays. This includes 16 area Navy and Marine Corps commands, plus the 1st Fighter Wing from Langley Air Force Base.
Barbara Flanagan is honorary chairman of this year's event. She and Adm. William J. Flanagan, commander-in-chief of the Atlantic Fleet, are hosting the holiday show and party for an expected 1,000 guests.
``This is one way to bridge the gap between deployed military members and their families,'' said Barbara Flanagan. ``And we feel a great appreciation for the local community that is helping us help our people in the Navy.''
Young said that, although the USO show has been given for the past two years, and about 500 people attended in 1994, ``this is the first year that it has really taken off.'' She credits enthusiastic community support for an event that just keeps getting bigger and better.
``The show is a gift from the community, underwritten by the community, a generous way to bring everybody together,'' she said.
It is geared mainly to 6- to 9-year-olds, because it seems to be hardest for that age group to have a parent gone during the holidays, Young said.
In addition to being entertained by King's Dominion characters such as Yogi Bear, Scooby Doo and Donald Duck, children will see a magic act, join in a Karaoke sing-along, meet Miss Virginia Amber Medlin, and decorate holiday trees.
And, of course, they will talk with Santa Claus and give him their ``wish lists.''
But probably the best treat of all won't be for the children: It will be for the moms and dads who can't be with them for the holidays.
Family members from each command will join together on the stage after the show to make a group video, which will be edited and sent to deployed sailors and airmen in time for viewing on Christmas Day. While the group ``salute to the command'' will only be a couple minutes long, the entire video will last one hour.
That's because cameramen will wander through the audience during the USO show and visits with Santa to ``make sure every single person's face gets on camera,'' Young said.
She explained that those who benefit from the USO show changes from year to year, depending on which branches of the armed forces are deployed. This year, it is the Navy, including thousands of sailors who are part of the America battle group, and the Air Force, protecting the skies over southern Iraq, who are away from home. Army and Coast Guard personnel are, for the most part, in town.
``This show brings so much joy to the children, moms and some dads - because sometimes it's the moms who are away - it seems like such a small thing to do to bring them all closer together.
``The finale gets quite sentimental; the closing song is `Let There Be Peace on Earth.' And, you know, if there were peace on earth, they'd all be home with us for Christmas,'' said Young. MEMO: AT A GLANCE
The 1995 USO Holiday Show will be 10 a.m. today in Hangar LP-2 at the
Norfolk Naval Air Station. Pre-show activities begin at 9 a.m., and
post-show visits with Santa, as well as group video taping, begin at
11.
The free event is open to any family member whose active duty service
member will be deployed for Christmas. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by VICKI CRONIS, The Virginian-Pilot
Honorary chairman Barbara Flanagan, shown here, and Adm. William J.
Flanagan, commander-in-chief of the Atlantic Fleet, are co-hosting
the third annual USO Holiday Show at the Norfolk Naval base for an
expected 1,000 guests.
by CNB