USO. USO. USO.

Social Chronicles

by Brendan Kownacki | on October 28th, 2013 |

by senior conributor Brendan Kownacki
Photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan

It’s hard to imagine a room more patriotic than the ballroom housing the USO Gala. The 2013 event was beaming with energy, pride and nationalism as a bustling crowd turned out to honor the mission of the USO and the armed services.

General Martin Dempsey, the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with Service Members

The annual gala, emceed this year by film and television actor (and USO tour veteran) Dennis Haysbert, continued the tradition of honoring stand-out members from each branch of the military and celebrating their work.

Actor Dennis Haysbert and Sloan D. Gibson, USO President and CEO

The USO itself has spent more than 72 years working to lift morale of military troops and their families regardless of where or when they need it.

The six USO Service Members of the Year for 2013

The honorees for the evening all expressed that they had joined the armed forces to fullfill a calling and thus to be honored by a group like the USO was very humbling. Each noted specific experience about what the organization has done to lift their spirits as they were stationed in different corners of the globe, from Japan to Afghanistan.

USO Sailor of the year, Petty Officer 1st Class Andrew C. “Chris” Munden with Denise Gallion and (rt) his mother Susan Munden

Dennis Haysbert has been active with the USO for five of the last eight years, being a part of tours that visit deployed soldiers and try keep their attitudes positive during tough times. Haysbert who is well known for playing President David Palmer on the hit TV show “24” mentioned that he’s happy to talk about his work (and his Allstate Insurance ads) with the service members if it helps them to pass the days until they return home.

Author Kathleen Antrim

Also on hand for the gala were authors Kathleen Antrim, Harlan Coben and Phillip Margolin who are all part of upcoming USO tour.

Wynonna Judd

Five-time Grammy winner Wynonna Judd rocked the room as entertainment for the evening with her classing country stylings and giving a taste of the exact entertainment she was brought to our troops as a veteran USO performer.

Medal of Honor recipient, Army Major Drew Dix

The night was about unity and coming together for the many service men and women dedicated to the defense of the United States every day and beyond those in the room, it was a chance to remember those troops abroad in the caring hands of the USO. As the motto for the group goes, “until every one comes home.”

Hollywood on the Potomac caught up with the honorees who reflected on the evening: