Home away from home for NYC’s military visitors

  • Published
  • By Capt. Allison Ecung
  • 514th Air Mobility Wing publci affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Although millions of tourists visit New York City every year, few are aware of the boutique hotel in midtown that caters solely to U.S. service members, allied forces, retirees and their families.

The mission of the Soldiers Sailors Marines Airmen & Coast Guard Club is to provide club-like facilities and accommodations at subsidized rates to military members and their families. A step away from Grand Central Station, the club is housed in conjoined 19th century townhouses at 238 Lexington Avenue between 36th and 37th streets.

Rooms can be booked for a fraction of the cost of larger hotels in the same area. The Soldiers and Sailors Club was originally founded in 1919 by General John J. Pershing along with Mrs. Cornelia Barnes Rogers and Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt Jr. as a home away from home for visiting troops. Since then, the club has served the military community surrounding New York City, and it continues to host events supporting the armed forces.

The next major fund-raising event is the Red, White and Blue Luncheon honoring military and civilian heroines, which will be held at the 21 Club on Tuesday April 24, 2012. For more information about SSMAC reservations or events call (212) 683-4353 and visit their website at www.ssmaclub.org.