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73rd Annual Liberty USO Gala

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The 73rd Annual Liberty USO Gala was held at the Marriott Downtown Saturday night, as the hotel filled with uniformed military personnel, guests, and supporters of the USO. Outside in the street were military vehicles, including a tank which attracted a lot of people wanting to take photos with it.

The USO makes sure help goes to those who need it the most: troops serving in combat, their families, wounded warriors and their families, and families of the fallen.

The evening began with a cocktail party, where service people “warriors” from various military branches enjoyed a small-plates buffet while bidding on the silent auction. The dinner program recognized several military members including Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Jessica L. Garfola Wright (recipient of the Liberty Award), who told heartwarming stories of how the USO is always there, doing all they can for the soldiers and their families.

For best results, view gallery in full-screen mode.

From left: PFC Scott Bonner, PFC Carl Johnson and PFC Matt DiFlorio. Walt Moura and Dana Spain. Hector Vargas and Lissette Vargas. Angela Juul and Ken Wong, co-chair for the gala. From left: Jessica Wright, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Cass Garfola and Chuck Wright. From left: Nina Davuluri, Miss America 2014 (she was staying at the Marriott to attend the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers National Conference and stopped by) with Ken Wong and Dana Spain, who were the co-chairs of the 74th USO Gala. Craig and Crystal Coburn. Gen. Wesley and Marta Craig. Ruben Amaro Jr. and fiancée Jami Schnell. The Philles were honored with the Chairman’s Award and Amaro gave a heartfelt speech when accepting it. He discussed the various ways the Phillies help out servicemen, including inviting them to Spring Training in Clearwater, Florida. Tom and Nooshin Pulley. The Phillie Phanatic and Marilyn Wagner. Keala and Vai Sikahema, NBC10 Anchor (he was emcee for the evening). From left: Izzy Moser, Lillian Silks, Justin Krautheim, and Jennifer Bety. From left: Patty and Gerry Fasano, vice president of strategy and business development for Lockheed, with Lianne and Ray Pennacchia, senior vice president at NovaCare Rehabilitation. Jonathan and Tameka Nicholson. The USO Color Guard displays the flags as Priscilla Coblentz Cohen sings the National Anthem. From left: Joseph Brooks, president/CEO Liberty USO, Jessica L. Garfola Wright (Liberty Award recipient), the 2014 Liberty USO USA Service Member of the Year: Staff Sergeant Hector Vargas, and Ed Clemens, president of the board, Liberty USO. Other top honors went to (not pictured) Ms. Lisa Roy, USO Volunteer of the Year; SFC Robin Johnson, The Major General Wesley Craig Award; Petty Officer Third Class James C. Thomas, USN Service Member of the Year; First Sergeant Richard D. Ayala, USMC Service Member of the Year; Boatswain’s Mate First Petty Officer David B. Edelson, USCG Service Member of the Year; and Senior Airman Steven A Yuhasz, USAF Service Member of the Year. After the awards program, co-chairs Dana Spain and Ken Wong asked for donations of the crowd and in 30 minutes another $45,000 was raised that evening to help the USO continue to help the military family, send care packages to the warriors, pay rent for those in need, provide medical needs when they’re not being met, welcome the soldiers home after their tours of duty, and anything else that isn’t being met through other means. As Ed Clemons so elegantly said, “The Military family serves the service as much as the military person." During the dinner, prominently displayed at the front of the room was a table set for the “Fallen Soldiers.” After dinner, the guests enjoyed dessert and dancing to “The Business.”

HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.

The post 73rd Annual Liberty USO Gala appeared first on Philadelphia Magazine.


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