MIKE THEILER ABOVE — Brig. Gen. Timothy C. Hanifen, deputy commanding general for the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, shakes hands with circus performer Bello Nock backstage as the Big Apple Circus salutes the troops with a Military Family Appreciation Day, March 6 in Sterling, Va. Hundreds of military Families were treated to a free performance in recognition of their service to the nation. RIGHT — ‘‘Grandma the Clown” jokes with a military Family as the Big Apple Circus salutes the troops.

Travel buses were available for military Families to take to and from the circus’s presentation of ‘‘Bello is Back!”

‘‘As a servicemember stationed at Joint Base-Myer Henderson Hall, it would be really hard for me and my Family to come out here,” said Maj. Michael Fazio of The Old Guard. ‘‘I am very grateful to USO for providing us with free tickets. Many of my Soldiers have gone to hockey games, concerts and other events thanks to USO, so I decided to try it out for the first time with my Family.”

Fazio’s 9-year-old son sat close by with cotton candy in his hand. ‘‘I’ve never been to the circus. I can’t wait to see the flying acrobats,” said Michael Jr.

Special guests included Miss Maryland, Brooke Poklemba, who sang the National Anthem, Brig. Gen. Timothy Hanifen, representing the Marine Corps, State Sen. Mark R. Herring and Delegate Robert Marshall, both from Virginia.

Hanifen asked all of the military servicemembers to stand up for a big round of applause. ‘‘We want to thank you for your outstanding service,” he said. Hanifen then asked the military spouses and children to stand for another round of applause. ‘‘You hold our hearts and our love — all that is dear to us, and you enable us to do the job that has to be done. Thank you and God bless,” he said.

Hanifen then turned to give his thanks to USO for its kindness in making Military Family Appreciation Day possible. ‘‘God Bless America,” he said.

Servicemembers and their Families were seated a mere 50 feet away from the action. Bello Nock plays the part of Bello the Clown — named ‘‘America’s Best Clown” by Time Magazine. ‘‘Bello” walked right up to servicemembers and their Families to show off his crazy antics and give them a good laugh.

Barry Lubin, who plays the part of ‘‘Grandma,” also circled the circus floor joking with servicemembers and their Families. The character pulled off servicemembers’ hats, pinched the kids’ cheeks and simply gave the children memories to take away from the Big Apple performance.

According to Joel W. Dein, the circus director of communications, the performers come from America, Armenia, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, England, France, Germany, Italy and Russia. Performers included Spain’s juggling artiste, Picasso Jr. and Russia’s Aniskin Troupe, who catapults to the top of the tent on a trampoline and soars across it on trapeze.

Dein said aerialist Regina Dobrovitskaya beautifully rises to the top of the circus tent dancing with shimmering ribbons. Equestrians Christine and Sultan pulled military Families into the show by straddling galloping horses close enough for the crowd to touch them. Circus performers used trained dogs rescued from shelters to do tricks and jumps with them, while servicemembers and their children could be seen smiling all around the circus tent.

There wasn’t a moment that went by during the show where laughter and ‘‘oohs” and ‘‘ahs” couldn’t be heard from servicemembers and their Families.

‘‘USO-Metro was proud to partner with Big Apple Circus to host hundreds of military Families under the big top on Saturday,” said Crystal Benton, communications manager, USO. ‘‘This event provided an opportunity to bring military Families together for an amazing show and to say thank you for their service and sacrifice.”