Poker run benefits local USO centers

About 67 riders from Crestview’s Amvets Post No. 35 showed up for a Sept. 18 poker run to benefit the USO of Northwest Florida.

This is the second year for the poker run that will likely become an annual event.

Last year, Post 35 raised $1,700 from the poker run that was donated to the USO of Northwest Florida, and Saturday’s event netted a total of $1,318 for the charity.

“Post 35 riders are the first service organization to choose us as their primary charity, and we could not be happier,” said Heidi Blair, Northwest Florida USO director.

Event chairperson Duan Byrd said, who is the Post 35 ladies auxiliary officer, said the organization chose USO of Northwest Florida after searching for charity that does something from service members abroad.

“When you consider it gets no federal or state money and depends upon private or corporate donations it does a wonderful job, and has for a very long time,” Byrd said.

On an early Saturday morning, a small group of enthusiastic well wishers cheered the motorcyclists on as roared out of their John King Road parking lot onto State Road 85 and headed north on their assigned run.

 One person wishing the riders success was June Baddorf, who was making a video of the event to send to her husband, who is stationed in Afghanistan.

“I want to do something for him even though he is thousands of miles away,” Baddorf said. “I want to send him something to remind him of home, something that he can connect to and know and be constantly reminded that we love him and care for him and that we are proud of what he and all the others are doing for our nation.”

Byrd was also among the bystanders but it wasn’t by choice.

“I had planned to ride, but with this rotator cuff problem I had to forgo that,” Byrd said, pointing to her arm in a sling. “But I am happy we pulled it off because it is such a great charity, and this is my first year at organizing the event.”

The USO has been a star performer since the early days of WWII, and the late great comedian Bob Hope became its standard bearer.

Today the USO has an operation that spans the globe and wherever there are American service personnel, there is a USO facility somewhere close by.

According to Heidi Blair, Northwest Florida USO director, the three area USO centers are staffed, funded and managed by local businesses, civic group and individuals. The three USO centers are at Pensacola Naval Air Station, Pensacola Regional Airport and Northwest Florida Regional Airport, in Valparaiso. The USO center at Northwest Florida Regional Airport recently opened and has been busy ever since.

 “Our expectations were the center at the airport would be used, but we had no idea we would have so much traffic using the facility,” Blair said. “So far we are averaging about 2,500 visits a month by individual service members or their family, and we are positive the numbers will grow larger.”