Former President Bush thanks USO
for 50 years of service to the military
By B.R. Sargent, Seoul
bureau
SEOUL — Former President Bush was the guest speaker at the
United Services Organization’s 50th Anniversary dinner Saturday night.
Bush said his main job was “to offer thanks and heartfelt
gratitude to the selfless patriots who are out there day in and day out doing the hard
work that contributes to the success of this organization.”
The USO could not function without dedicated volunteers and staff, he
said.
More than 800 people attended the dinner paid for by USO sponsors.
Each table cost between $1,000-$3,000, depending on the table’s proximity to the
former president. Because sponsors took on the cost of the tables, about 300
servicemembers were allowed to attend at no charge.
“I took a picture with the [former] president,” said
22-year-old Army Spc. Albert Amalfitano. Amalfitano works in the Joint Security Area along
the South Korea’s Demilitarized Zone. “I’m pretty excited,” he said.
“It’s a great experience to meet the [former]
president,” said Spc. John Taijeron, 21. Taijeron also works in the Joint Security
Area. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
As Bush thanked the many volunteers, staff and sponsors of USO
programs, he called the U.S. armed forces the “last, best hope of mankind to secure a
new age of freedom. To assist them in this dangerous work, friends of freedom everywhere
take comfort that the USO will be right behind them every step of the way.”
“It was fantastic having the former president with us,”
said Elaine Losey, USO Korea regional director. “We have some very big U.S. and
Korean supporters who really appreciate what the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines do
here. I just feel the first 50 years were building platforms, and we’re going to
launch into some even greater events in the future.”
While in Korea, Bush helped dedicate the renovated USO facility on
Camp Casey and officially open a new mobile canteen. Bush’s father, former
Connecticut Sen. Prescott S. Bush, helped establish the USO and raised $33 million for the
organization.
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