If you are a veteran or an active duty G.I., then you have undoubtedly been to an USO location. Whether they were far from home, or possibly on leave, the USO has been there for our servicemen and women since 1941.

Three local soldiers are running as Team USO in the New York City Marathon in support of the USO.  Please support them by reading their story here. If you wish to make a donation to their efforts, please visit this page. and click on the “support me” button.

As you know, the Mess Dinner will be held on January 8, 2011 at the India House, Hanover Square, NYC. Our Honored Guest this year will be David S. Rohde. Mr. Rohde is a Pulitzer Prize award winning journalist. Here is a link to a Wikipedia article. Recommended reading.
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Debra Rogers found a bit of golden respite in her battle against cancer: a week in the warm Florida sun, watching her son and his friends – all soldiers – play softball against other U.S. servicemembers.
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Columbus Day Parade – U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Randall A. Clinton, originally uploaded by vcasny.

U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Victor Miranda marches the band up 5th Ave during the annual Columbus Day Parade in New York, Oct. 11, 2010. Parade organizers estimated nearly one million spectators watched the procession. Miranda is the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band drum major.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Stephen Lutsky sets fire to insurgent clothing and bedding discovered during a raid on a weapons cache during an air-assault mission with Afghan forces in the mountains of Khowst province, Afghanistan, Oct. 8, 2010. Lutsky is the commanding officer of the 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment. Photo by U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Brent C. Powell
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Efforts to recover those missing from the Vietnam War have helped to transform the U.S.-Vietnamese relationship in the years since the conflict ended, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.
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