For many of us, our entire knowledge of the USO is based on the televised entertainment tours Bob Hope and other celebrities took to the troops in Vietnam. For many others, however, the United Service Organizations Inc., means much, much more.

It’s the quiet corner in Kuwait where troops made their last phone call to family back home before joining other troops in combat. It’s the one-on-one mentoring of children in military families who have fallen behind academically because of the stress and uncertainty of having a parent deployed. It’s food assistance to military families. It’s a lifeline between families and deployed military personnel through an online video message system. In other words, it’s constant, ongoing support of our military wherever they are in the world — whenever they need it.

North Carolina has been central to the USO since its establishment by the federal government in 1941. Only one USO has served continuously during those 70 years — the USO of North Carolina, said Lt. Colonel (Ret.) John Falkenbury, president of USO-NC. He explained that when the government suspended USO operations following the close of World War II, the Jacksonville center continued operations through the efforts of volunteers. As such, it is the oldest USO center in the world.

USO-NC is staging a yearlong celebration of the vital role of the nonprofit organization with events that began in April 2011 and with Wilmington Celebrates, which features two celebrations in Wilmington on March 31, 2012.

The first event of the day is a marriage vow renewal ceremony onboard the USS North Carolina for military families — past and present. The ceremony will occur from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and is free to couples married while on active duty, reserve or National Guard status. Online registration is required to take part in the ceremony. All other attendees $10 per ticket.

The second event, that evening, is a Big Band-era party at the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center. The gala reception and dance is from 7-10 p.m., and features Big Band music, catering by Bon Appetit, champagne toast, cash bar, silent auction, art show and more. Tickets are $35 per person.

Colonel (Ret.) Jeri Graham is co-chairing the event. The former US Army nurse and military healthcare administrator retired to Wilmington in 2002. Her research for a new home led her to select Wilmington as “a very community-oriented, patriotic place to live.” For the past six years, Graham has been president of the SENCLAND Chapter of Military Officers Association of America, and this year, she’s the first vice-president of the N.C. Council of Chapters for the same organization. Gov. Bev Perdue appointed her to a four-year term on the N.C. Veterans Affairs Commission, and she’s first vice-chair of the New Hanover County Veterans Council.

“Because I am obviously committed to supporting our service members past, present and future,” Graham said, “I am delighted to be part of the work that’s being done to support the USO of North Carolina.”

Graham explained the purpose for the events: “We have the fourth largest number of military installations in the country. We now have the largest base at Fort Bragg. North Carolina has done very well in the Base Realignment and Closure Act in maintaining our base structure, and I would say a lot of kudos to Gov. Perdue because, as the lieutenant governor, she was very instrumental in working for our continued growth.”

Supporting those military personnel and their families is the sole objective of USO- NC.

“Beyond the traditional interest of providing troops with all the comforts of home, the USO-NC has stayed relevant in the 21st century by offering support services and programs to military families,” Falkenbury said.

 Studies have shown that soldiers and their families experience emotional, psychological and financial stress.

“The strain on the parent left behind often creates mental health issues that can have negative effects on children’s ability to thrive at home and at school,” he said.

A recent study suggested that children of deployed personnel have lower academic-achievement scores and increased mental- and behavioral-health issues. USO-NC has responded to these findings by offering reading and study skills programs for military children. It also recognizes that the needs of soldiers who enter college upon their return from deployment are far different from those of the general population. USO-NC is in discussions with colleges about establishing satellite USO centers on campuses, Falkenbury said.

USO-NC, through a very small staff and more than 700 volunteers, seeks to alleviate some of these challenges. It operates centers in the Raleigh-Durham, Charlotte-Douglas and Fayetteville airports and an information desk, staffed by volunteers, at the New Bern airport where service members can relax as well as communicate with family members free-of-charge through the Internet and phone calls. There are also centers on base at Camp Lejeune, Fort Bragg and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and a mobile unit. Support through these centers comes in many forms including deployment and homecoming care packages, coordination of sports and entertainment events, such as visits to the Carolina Panthers training camp, and much more.

Airport centers are open 24/7 and those same volunteers are on hand to render plane-side military honors to fallen service members returning home for burial through RDU and CDIA.

“The Honors Support Team ensures each fallen hero is treated with dignity, kindness, gratitude and respect,” Falkenbury said. “Remains are never unattended for even a moment as they make their final journey home.”

This work comes at a cost, all of which must be funded by efforts at the state level. The national USO does not provide funding. Falkenbury said the current year’s budget is $1.25 million and it will rise to $1.4 million with the addition of new centers and needs. The group has seen a steady increase in request for services, and the homecoming of forces from Iraq added even more to the need. More than 400,000 troops and their families were served in fiscal year 2011 — an increase of 80,000 since 2010. On the state level, Falkenbury is working toward an endowment that will assist with ongoing operations.

“Some organizations have an endowment. We hope, through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, charitable and estate giving, to raise about $5 million,” Falkenbury said.

The events of  Wilmington Celebrates on March 31 are designed not only to honor our military, but to raise funds for the vital work of USO-NC.

“We invite all of Wilmington and the state to join us in honoring our service men and women and in raising funds that are so badly needed by the USO-NC,” Graham said.

For more information on the USO-NC or Wilmington Celebrates vist www.uso-nc.org or call 910.616.3487. LOL