Coachella Valley Organizations Coordinate Overnight Support and Free Rides for Twentynine Palms Troops Traveling for July Fourth

To accommodate the influx of holiday travelers, the USO lounge at Palm Springs International Airport is temporarily altering its operations. While the lounge normally operates from 0600 to 2100 hours 365 days a year, management is keeping the doors open overnight to assist troops dropped off in the afternoon who have flights departing as early as 5:30 AM.

According to Larry Boyd, the USO's desert area manager, the overnight stays allow service members to avoid paying out-of-pocket for local hotels.

• Enhanced Comforts: The USO has set up cots throughout the lounge for overnight resting.

• Special Holiday Menu: In addition to their standard fare of hot dogs and sandwiches, volunteers have added a custom toppings bar featuring chili, cheese, onions, and peppers, alongside a selection of pastries.

"As America celebrates its 250th birthday, there's no better way to honor the nation than by making sure those who defend it feel at home, even if it's just for one night," Boyd stated, noting that roughly 12,000 service members and their families pass through the PSP lounge annually.

'29 PSP' Eliminates Travel Costs

The logistics of moving personnel from the base to the airport are being driven by 29 PSP, a local nonprofit organization run entirely by volunteers. Celebrating its two-year anniversary, the group has provided over 3,000 free rides to date, saving military families an estimated $750,000 in transit costs.

More than 10 dedicated volunteer drivers are operating continuous loops between the base and the airport on Thursday.

"We are very, very blessed here in the Valley," said Sherman Tam, who helps spearhead the transit program. "We work tightly with the USO. They have over 75 volunteers; we have over 50 volunteers."

The community support will extend through the end of the holiday weekend. To handle the mass return of troops on Monday, 29 PSP has utilized grants from local foundations and businesses to rent a fleet of vans, establishing a dedicated return shuttle service back to Twentynine Palms.