USO Supporter,

In just a few days, the USO will celebrate 83 years since it was founded to support American service members and their families whenever and wherever they serve.

From the moment they enlist, we're with our troops every step of their military journey. As a nonprofit organization, this important work is powered by generous supporters like you. Throughout our long history, your generosity has helped us find new ways of better supporting our brave heroes in uniform. That's what recently led us to officially open our first aircraft carrier-based USO Center to better support our Navy at sea.

Providing comfort and support to as many as 5,000 military personnel aboard a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier is no small task, but it's also a very important one. When the population of a small city is living aboard 4.5 acres and 60,000 tons of floating steel for months at a time while separated from families and friends, conditions can be stressful and isolating.

That's why the USO Center aboard the USS George H.W. Bush is available to service members while both ashore and at sea. It includes many of the same amenities as a land-based center: comfortable seating, TVs, video and board games, USO program kits and snacks. It also comes outfitted with computers and phones to give service members another way to connect with families back home.

Addressing the unique challenges of service members at sea by opening a USO Center on an aircraft carrier is a big step in expanding our support of our troops. As one commanding officer said, "This center is the latest example of the awesome support the USO provides service members around the world."

In just a few days, we'll celebrate 83 years of proudly supporting our nation's military, and we hope military supporters like you will take pride in the fact that your support is what helps make all of our work at the USO possible. Together, we're providing our American heroes with what they need to be at their best during their service — wherever they're deployed.

Warmly,

The USO

P.S. To celebrate 83 years of service to our troops, we’re hoping 50,000 patriots via email and text message will sign our birthday card to show that Americans today still stand with our heroes in uniform. Will you sign our card now to help reach our goal before the USO’s birthday ends on Sunday?