Recognizing the week of September 22, 2002 as "Philadelphia USO Week."

WHEREAS, The United Service Organizations (“USO”) was created in 1941 under the direction of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, through the combined efforts of the YMCA, YWCA, Traveler’s Aid, Jewish Welfare Board, National Catholic Community Services and the Salvation Army. One year later, The Philadelphia USO, also known as “The Liberty USO,” was founded to meet the specific needs of military people and their families in this region; and

WHEREAS, The USO, now celebrating its sixtieth anniversary of service, now provides an array of services at 120 domestic and worldwide locations. These include family support, mobile canteens, travel assistance, family centers, cyber cafes, and entertainment; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia USO is a non-profit corporation that receives no federal or state funds, relying instead on volunteers and the financial support of individuals, corporations and friends. This support has been such that the Liberty USO has consistently met the needs of the military and their families, especially at Terminal D of the Philadelphia International Airport, which receives over 2000 people each month. These Americans receive food, sleep quarters, nursery facilities, showers, computer access, free telephones, travel assistance, ground transportation, local area information, and perhaps most important, a place to relax; and

WHEREAS, At this gala Sixtieth Anniversary Celebration, we also recognize The Honorable Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense and recipient of this year’s Liberty Award. We also congratulate all the other awardees and honorees at this terrific event. Each of you, and all the members of the Liberty USO, have made this world a better place and have enhanced the lives of untold thousands of our citizens; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize the week of September 22, 2002 as “USO Week” in our City.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to J. Denny Shupe, President of the USO of Philadelphia, Inc., as evidence of the great admiration and high esteem of this legislative body.

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