Cheers to a Great 80th Birthday

Did you know that the USO (United Service Organizations) is celebrating its 80th birthday? I sure didn’t.

This is an organization that has dedicated itself to military personnel, both home and abroad, wherever and whenever they can. Over the years, they’ve done concerts, care stations both in the United States and overseas, and provided entertainment such as dances. If you travel at all, you can still see USO care stations in airports, with international and national connections around the United States.

For me, I think of USO through the eyes of Bob Hope doing theatrical reviews right up near the front lines and Jimmy Stewart playing Glenn Miller in the movie titled The Glenn Miller Story going over to England with his band to perform for the troops. I also think about one of the largest stopping points during World War II being in Ogallala Nebraska, where troops would change trains and where trains would be serviced. The entire community became a USO outpost, providing food and entertainment for the troops, millions of them, during World War II, as they were transported across the country.

With a father who proudly served in the military, and who is highly decorated, our families always paid a great deal of attention to the military and its personnel. However, members and volunteers of the USO never get the recognition that a military veteran does but they serve a critical role in the life and being of those who protect us. Thanks for a great 80 year’s worth of work.