The USO is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to support the troops by providing morale, welfare and recreation services to our men and women in uniform. The original intent of Congress and enduring style of USO delivery is to represent the American people by extending a touch of home to the military. The USO currently operates more than 130 centers worldwide, including ten mobile canteens located in the continental United States and overseas.

I was invited into one of these mobile canteens last December to record a video message for my husband, who was serving in Afghanistan at the time. They made it into a DVD and sent it directly to him, along with a pre-paid phone card and some hand-written cards from civilians, and he received it in time for Christmas. It was the first time he’d seen his son in months, so it meant a lot to both of us that the USO made it possible.

They do so much more than this, so many greater things on much a larger scale, but the fact that they also do small, personal things like recording video messages for everyday military families is another great aspect of the organization. Sometimes it’s just the little things that make the biggest impact on a person, you know?

A few of their great programs:

United Through Reading Military Program

The USO, in partnership with Family Literacy Foundation, is proud to offer the United Through Reading Military program at select USO centers worldwide. Service members are able to record themselves reading a children s book aloud. The USO sends the DVD and a copy of the book to the children in their lives back home. You can donate online and choose the”donate to a specific program” option to help with this operation.

Operation USO Care Package

Distributed to deploying service members, care packages may include snacks,entertainment items, toiletries, sunscreen and other items requested by troops. With a donation of $25 you can sponsor a USO care package and include a personal message of support and encouragement. To support Operation USO Care Package, click here.

USO Operation USO Phone Home

Prepaid, international phone cards are given free to service members, especially those in Afghanistan, Iraq and other overseas locations. Help deployed service members call home by donating to Operation Phone Home today. Donate online and choose the “donate to a specific program” option.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to read through this post. I know many people get sick of constantly hearing about the wars and the troops, but as someone who’s living in it every day, I can’t begin to tell you how important it is to remember and respect what these people are doing for us everyday, so we can have cookouts and parties, and every other freedom we enjoy and usually take for granted.

Okay, and that’s all I’ll say about that. Have a great Memorial Day weekend everyone.