Americans invited to actively express gratitude and support for service members and their families
On Feb. 4, 2021, the United Service Organizations (USO) will celebrate 80 years of strengthening America’s military service members by connecting them to family, home, and country, throughout their service to the nation.
Since its founding in 1941, the USO has adapted to the evolving needs of the military and has always been by their side. From providing morale-boosting entertainment to delivering millions of care packages—and from offering impactful career transitions programming to providing opportunities to connect with loved ones—the USO has been a valuable resource for the 40 million-plus brave individuals who have served our country over the past eight decades. And throughout the Midwest, USO Indiana has been serving the needs of our military and families since 1941.
“The Armed Forces are the backbone of our nation,” said J.D. Crouch II, USO CEO and President. “We are honored to have such a rich history serving America’s Armed Forces. The sacrifice of service members and their families requires that we rise to the challenge as we have done for the past 80 years and will continue to do for years to come.”
Thanks to the family of volunteers and generosity of partners and donors, USO Indiana has helped advance the USO’s mission of connection in a variety of ways since its establishment. Select examples of the USO's innovation in support of service members and their families include:
- Virtual Programs: In response to COVID-19, the USO has quickly pivoted to help service members and their families navigate new challenges. For those facing prolonged periods of isolation due to quarantines, the USO's Military Virtual Programming (MVP) and gaming initiatives offer not only a reprieve from the stress of daily life but also the chance to connect with celebrities and other members of the global military community.
- Military Spouse Networking Opportunities: To help military spouses stay connected and build friendships, the USO hosts virtual and socially distanced Coffee Connections sessions. These networking opportunities have offered military spouses a safe space to share the joys and challenges of military life.
- Bob Hope Legacy Reading Program: With the generous support of the Bob Hope Legacy Foundation, the USO has helped service members stay connected to their children during deployments. Military parents are invited to record themselves reading a book, which is then sent home and used to nurture parent-child relationships, no matter the physical distance between them.
“USO Indiana is proud to be part of the USO’s legacy of serving America’s Armed Forces,” said Mike Hanlon, USO Indiana’s Executive Director. “With the generous support of volunteers, donors, and partners, the USO can give more than thanks to service members and their families throughout Indiana and around the globe.”
To help the USO continue supporting a resilient military, USO Indiana invites the public to join the Force Behind the Forces® and Give More Than Thanks to service members and their families at home and abroad.
Americans can make a difference in the military community by actively expressing their gratitude for our nation’s service members and their sacrifices through donations, sponsorship, volunteering, sharing USO stories online, providing in-kind items or participating in USO activities.
To learn more about ways to give more than thanks, visit https://indiana.uso.org. Follow the USO’s Give More Than Thanks campaign and be part of the conversation using the hashtag #morethanthanks.