High marks for the troopsThe Washington Life-sponsored USO Annual Gala hit another high note this year with Wayne Newton, country crooner Neal McCoy and comedian Jeff Ross. Performers and soldiers traded in camouflage for black-ties to attend the September 14 event at the Washington Hilton honoring outgoing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Richard Myers and five service heroes from each branch of the armed forces who received the “USO Service Member of the Year” award for acts of heroism. Surprisingly though, the “Spirit Award” actually went to his longdeserving wife Mary Jo. Myers. “I don’t know whether I’m more surprised at this award or more surprised that my husband of 40 years can surprise me,” she said. “As honored as I am, it pales in comparison to the honor we’ve had to serve in the military these last 40 years and to serve alongside the kind of men and women we have in uniform. I’m in awe of each of them.” Among those on hand to honor the troops: Hall of Fame’s NFL quarterback John Elway; NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal; local soprano star Harolyn Blackwell, whose “God Bless America” caused nearly 900 attendees to rise their feet; also local singer songwriter Harry Rollins; Miss USA Chelsea Cooley; actress Kathy Kinney; and the evening’s emcee, TV personality Deborah Norville. It was around this time last year that “Mr. Las Vegas” of “Danke Schoen” fame packed up his bags with McCoy and headed oversees following in the footsteps of the legendary Bob Hope. Now part of the USO Celebrity Circle, Newton has made stops in Quatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and boarded the USS Abraham Lincoln with General Franks.
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