"It feels pretty amazing."

"We can just go in and make ourselves comfortable."

"It's a good experience, always, coming here."

This is how military members talk about their top-floor retreat at Atlanta's airport.

This year, the Jean R. Amos United Service Organization Center is celebrating its 40th anniversary at the Atlanta airport. Opened July 1, 1977, the USO facility is designed as a haven for traveling service members and their families. It was the first-ever USO designed as a component of an American airport.

Mary Lou Austin, CEO at USO Georgia, says it helps the readiness of the entire armed forces to remind them that people think about and support them in their deployments.

"Every day, these young men and young women leave their families to go to protect our country, whether it's overseas or serving in the United States, and we, the USO, is the American community showing appreciation and gratitude," says Austin.

Typically, USO ATL assists 150 to 350 active service members each day, and over 150,000 annually. During the summer surge with field trainings and new enlistees, she says, the average goes up to 400 a day.

The Hartsfield-Jackson lounge provides everything from meals and snacks to Internet access to comfortable seating and entertainment, free of charge to the service members. On the weekend eve of the 40th anniversary, the USO cut a cake to celebrate and partner Coca-Cola passed out chilly 8-ounce glass bottles of USO-branded Coke.

Austin began working with the USO charity in 1968 after seeing an ad seeking help in the newspaper. She was tapped to come to Atlanta after USO stints in several places including Germany--where she met her military husband--and at headquarters, then in New York.

"It was the end of the Vietnam War then. Military weren't held in high esteem. The funding was difficult," she recalls of some of the problems she was expected to help resolve. As Fort Jackson trained young women who had to come to the Atlanta airport for special buses, and trainees from Fort Benning started churning out more newly-recruited trainees, it became clear that the USO facility needed to be placed smack dab at ATL. She says it was "in the old terminal, down at the baggage claim."

"It's my baby, and it'll be with me all my life," says Austin.

Austin says she sees the young recruits coming in, heading off to training, then sees them 14 weeks later as brand-new soldiers who have graduated; she has known military members who have then retired and then later met their children, who follow in a parent's footsteps to join the service themselves.

"One of the things that's more touching is when somebody turns around, a serviceman or servicewoman, and says, 'Thank you.' And you say, 'No. We are here to thank you.' And it's so genuine. They are not looking for a thank you. They are looking to serve," says Austin.

Major Gen. Joe Jarrard, the Adjutant General of the Georgia Department of Defense who is nicknamed "Traveling Joe" in the National Guard because of his frequent trips to military bases nationwide, calls it "the best USO in the world."

"So many of our service members have passed through this USO over the past 40 years," Jarrard says. "It has assisted soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines during peace time and for too long now, during war. So on behalf of all those service men and women, I'm here to say 'Thank you.'" Jarrard spoke of some 1,000 volunteers who make the facility special.

On the 4th of July, USO ATL is serving a hot dog buffet for traveling military. Volunteers are also showing support for the military at nearby Krogers.

As the facility celebrated its 40th, the lounge was busy with service members eating, drinking, chatting and resting, with a steady flow of military travelers coming and going. Private Michael Balk and Specialist Bryan Thompson were fresh from Airborne school at Fort Benning, passing through on their way to Anchorage, Alaska.

"They welcomed us with open arms. It felt good," said Thompson.

"There's a lot of stress that takes traveling to new places," said Balk. "Everybody coming up to us and giving us anything we need for help is just pretty amazing."

As they sat in cushy armchairs near TVs, Balk and Thompson also marveled at the seasoned officers who were in the room with them, making it a point to wish them good morning with their titles even as everyone took advantage of the comfort the USO has to offer.

"There's like, two-star generals and sergeant majors, and we're over here, day-one privates," Balk laughed. "I'm shaking in my boots not to make a wrong impression or anything."

Thompson said they made sure to show the senior officers respect.

"It's very important that they have to be noticed, because they're at a higher rank," said Thompson.

Army Staff Sergeants Eric Gaines and Rasheedah Davis both work as recruiters; Davis also volunteers at USO ATL.

"It's near and dear to my heart," says Davis, who says it's always easy to be at ease there. A place to let your hair down? a reporter asks. "Yes!" she says.

Gaines quickly chimed in in the affirmative, too.

"The USO is a home away from home for a lot of us," he said. "We come in, we can relax and connect with family members. It kind of keeps us connected back home, as if we never left."