2007年VOA标准英语-New Lounge for US Military Opens at Dulles Inte

By Robin¹ Chen Delos
Washington
06 July 2007
 

Hundreds of thousands of U.S. military members pass through Washington Dulles International Airport each year -- many on their way to and from conflict zones.  While many other airports have welcome centers providing services or a place to rest for traveling service members, until a few months ago, Dulles did not.  VOA's Jim Bertel has the story.

Across from baggage claim 12 at Dulles Airport, the USO of Metropolitan² Washington has opened a lounge for traveling service members.  Congress established the United Service Organization to reach out to U.S. troops.   Among its many services, the USO operates lounges at airports all across the country -- providing free services and a place to rest while waiting.   

Colonel Daniel O'Brien

Colonel Daniel O'Brien was in Kosovo for more than six months.  He returned temporarily to the U.S. for medical reasons. "I always stop at the USO usually when I come into the airport for military travel.  And I sign-in, see what's going on.  It's a good place to rest and all your soldiers are here and navy personnel, marines."

Melissa Reguiera is the airport services coordinator³ for USO at Dulles. Officials estimate the new lounge will serve 40,000 military travelers each year. "We basically provide hospitality services.  We have free food and free water, hotel assistance, hotel rooms, free wireless⁴.  We have phones that call anywhere in the world for free."

Specialist Torian Watkins

Specialist Torian Watkins of the U.S. Army's 502nd Engineering Company is stationed in Germany.  He needed help getting to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.  "Soon as I walked through the door I got a greeting and a 'How can I help you?' Then they took the information they needed, got on the phone, and got me a ride to Walter Reed."

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority donated space for the welcome center.  And USO-Metro raised money from donors⁵ in order to build the $500,000 lounge.

Volunteers, including Alivia Tagliaferri, staff the lounge everyday. She says it’s her way of giving back. "Basically I just wanted to give back in the best way I could. I wanted to help them help others and I think that they are a wonderful organization."

At the Dulles USO, Tagliaferri and other volunteers get a chance to serve and interact with members of the military. Visiting service members simply find a friendly place to relax.

1 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

2 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。

3 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

4 wireless   

adj.无线的；n.无线电

参考例句：

• There are a lot of wireless links in a radio.收音机里有许多无线电线路。
• Wireless messages tell us that the ship was sinking.无线电报告知我们那艘船正在下沉。

5 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》