[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13666]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE USO

  Mr. KIRK. Mr. President, I would like to honor the United Service 
Organizations, USO, and especially the USO of Illinois, as they 
celebrate their 75th anniversary of keeping servicemembers connected to 
their family, home, and country throughout their service to the Nation.
  Since 1941, the USO has been the Nation's leading organization to 
serve our military men and women and their families. The USO has 
continuously adapted to the needs of our servicemembers and their 
families as they have provided support from the moment servicemembers 
join the military, through their assignments and deployments, and when 
they transition back to their communities.
  USO centers are found throughout the world at airports and military 
installations, providing around-the-clock hospitality to service-
members and their families. In addition to supporting servicemembers 
and their families at home, the USO has a tradition of bringing 
American entertainment and music to our troops overseas.
  The USO of Illinois touches the lives of over 330,000 Active-Duty, 
Guard, and Reserve military servicemembers and their families 
throughout the State. The USO of Illinois provides over 300 programs 
and services throughout the year to enhance the quality of life for our 
servicemembers and their families, including family support events like 
tickets to the theatre or sporting events, programs designed for 
military children, prepare care packages for Illinois servicemembers 
deployed abroad, and providing support and appreciation at homecomings 
and deployments at airports. The USO of Illinois is a nonprofit 
organization relying on the generosity of individuals and corporations 
and hundreds of volunteers.
  I congratulate and commend the USO and the USO of Illinois for their 
continued efforts to support Illinois' servicemembers, their families, 
and our veterans.

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