CityView Magazine

12TH ANNUAL Food by Carrabba's "TOAST OF THE TOWN" RAFFLE Wine Tasting Thursday May 3, 2012 $40/person Holiday Inn Bordeaux ~ 6:00-8:30 p.m. 910.485.0555 projects@thecareclinic.org & Did you know... Did you know... Children with untreated mental health needs are more likely to drop out of school. Children with untreated mental health needs are more likely to drop out of school. Local USO falls out of use But back in Fayetteville, where so many of those troops began their march to war, the USO Club existed mostly in name only. Don Talbot, who did three tours in Vietnam and has since become a well-known vet- erans advocate in Fayetteville, said it wasn't a shining beacon of diver- sion for draſtees during the Vietnam era. "It just lost its touch." He said the military culture — indeed, the experi- ence of serving — had changed since World War II, when troops leſt for war and stayed for the duration. With Vi- etnam, "we went in and went out, and then there was the whole anti-war ef- fort. You didn't have (the USO Club) on your mind." The first USO Club opened during World War II a block away inside the old parsonage of the Hay Street United Methodist Church. At the time, people knew it as the Soldiers Town Hall, and it was a happening place. Throughout the wartime period, the local USO hosted dances and parties for soldiers there and on Fort Bragg. "I don't know if it was ever in a hey- day aſter World War II," Hurley, the former mayor, said. "I think its heyday was World War II and a few years aſter. Aſter that it sort of lost its influence, its purpose. Also, the downtown did not have a great image at that time." It's an image Hurley worked as mayor to shatter in the early eighties. He ran for mayor on the platform of razing all The Junior League of Fayetteville is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving our communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Help us impact the community through our Child Mental Health Initiative. Our children's future is our commitment. The Junior League of Fayetteville is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving our communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Help us impact the community through our Child Mental Health Initiative. Our children's future is our commitment. Because now you know, child mental health matters. Because now you know, child mental health matters. To learn more about the Junior League of Fayetteville and how you can get involved, visit www.jlfay.org. To learn more about the Junior League of Fayetteville and how you can get involved, visit www.jlfay.org. 54 | May/June • 2012 "We went aſter the 500 block of Hay Street," he said. "We knocked down the buildings and bars and strip joints. And we have rebounded steadily ever since." Although the popularity of the those tawdry night spots. USO Club might have fizzled among the local military community during Vietnam era and aſter, the big brick building with the hardwood floors and bandstand was far from abandoned. Fayetteville used the building for special events such as banquets and dances and even a skating rink. "Dur- ing my time as mayor, I don't remem- ber the military using it," said Hurley, who was mayor from 1981 to 1987. SPC0014852TI

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