A view of the South Lawn of the White House as military families enjoyed the holiday on July 4, 2009, with a special USO picnic and concert. (Official White House photo by Pete Souza)
One of our favorite holidays – the 4th of July – is almost here. We’ll be honoring our Troops and celebrating our independence…and we want to hear what YOU will be doing, too!
Take our poll below and add your own ideas in the comments section. And click on the “Share This” button to post to your favorite social networking sites.
Four lucky commenters will receive USO prize packs! Sorry, USO employees and their families are not eligible.
Regular readers of the blog are no doubt familiar with the USO’s official Facebook fan page, but did you know that USO’s around the globe are now joining in on the fun?
Below is a list of every USO Center that’s currently on Facebook. We encourage you to “Like” any and all of them, especially if you want to keep tabs on what’s happening to loved ones deployed overseas! And if we missed one, let us know (and include the link)! We’ll keep adding to the list as more come on board.
Former US Marine and top mixologist Bryan Stowe demonstrates how to mix a cocktail the right way. Delicious but perfectly simple, each of the 60 Second Cocktails can be crafted in 60 seconds or less. Prep your mixers and garnishes in advance, and be ready to impress your guests.
With Independence Day just a week away, many Americans are looking forward to a long weekend full of quality time with their family and friends. While it’s great to unwind and celebrate, it’s also important not to lose sight of what the holiday stands for, and to remember the men and women who have fought for our country. If you’re planning to entertain your friends and family in style this 4th of July, an easy way to support the troops at home and abroad while having fun is through the “60 Second Cocktails” program, brought to you this summer by Bacardi USA to support the USO.
As a former Marine and a bartender, the charity partnership is very close to my heart. In support of the program, I’ve come up with some awesome and easy party tips and cocktail recipes that are sure to impress your guests this summer. There’s nothing worse than throwing a party and spending the entire time slaving away in the kitchen. Just because you’re the host, doesn’t mean you can’t have fun too! The ‘60 Second Cocktails’ – made with a number of brands including: Grey Goose, Bombay Sapphire, Bacardi Superior Rum, Bacardi Limon, Cazadores and Dewar’s Blended Scotch Whisky – are the perfect solution.
First things first, make sure to prepare in advance. For décor, a great tip is to select ripe, colorful foods and beverages, which bring a natural flavor to the table. Bright, fresh ingredients, such as vegetable crudités, lend a fresh, vibrant touch perfect for summer. When selecting music, a great time-saver is to set your satellite radio before your guests arrive, then you can let loose and let your favorite songs play throughout your party without even thinking about it!
When mixing drinks, the most important thing I can emphasize is to use fresh ingredients! They make all the difference in the taste of your cocktails, and your guests will definitely notice the extra effort and better taste! Also, remember to always pack the glass fully with ice. A stronger body of cold provides for a better drink, especially during the hot summer months. And, remember to have a good time. Above all else, a great attitude will help your party flourish.
Another great way to save time is by batching your cocktails in advance. A great batched recipe that I love is the Cazadores Margarita! Create this margarita in advance for an easy way to please an extra-large crowd. When you make drinks in advance, always wait until they’re served to add the ice to avoid dilution. Also, if a recipe calls for a sparkling ingredient such as club soda, be sure to add that at the very end once your guests arrive so it doesn’t go flat.
Tequila CAZADORES® Margarita
Serves 129
4 liters of Tequila CAZADORES® Reposado
2 liters of triple sec (40 proof)
10 bottles (750 mL) of sweet and sour ready-to-use (not concentrate)
1 gallon of orange juice
1/2 gallon fresh lime juice
Mix all ingredients in a large container and stir; serve over the rocks with salt on the rim. Garnish with a lime
Remember to visit the 60 Second Cocktails Facebook page, for many more recipes, updates and interactive cocktail videos! And, be sure to visit the donate tab and click on the link, as Bacardi USA will donate $1 to the USO for every click up to $100,000. What an easy way to make a difference! Enjoy the holiday with delicious cocktails brought to you by Bacardi USA to support the USO. Happy Independence Day!
Bryan Stowe is a former US marine and top mixologist who knows it only takes 60 seconds to show support for our Troops. The opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of Mr. Stowe and do not necessarily reflect those of the USO.
This week’s free documentary from Snag Films is Into the Thunder Dragon, and it’s is like no other film you’ve ever seen.
Bring a rare, wild sport: extreme unicycling … to a remote Himalayan kingdom: Bhutan … and you have a recipe for unbelievable adventure! Get ready for a spell-binding road trip and an enchanting journey unicycling on perilous 1,000-year-old caravan trails through the mountains and valleys of Bhutan—along with an intimate look at its unique people and rich culture.
A message from Addie and Greg Zinone, Co-founders of Pro vs. GI Joe:
In partnership with the Wounded Warrior Project and the USO, and sponsored by Armed Forces Insurance, Pro vs. GI Joe created Rehabbing with the Troops using our concept of connecting pros and troops through video games. But instead of playing Guitar Hero and/or Call of Duty, we’re focusing solely on wounded warriors and fun, yet intense workouts on the Wii console with professional athletes acting as our warriors’ ‘trainers’. Season 1′s pro trainers are the Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints.
RWTT’s goal is simple: to create a virtual community, called the Wounded Warrior Arena, in which our warriors can find common ground and a mutual understanding while simultaneously working on both their physical rehabilitation and emotional well-being. The workouts are designed to not only improve their overall physical health but to also provide an environment where they’re surrounded by troops from all branches of service, from all over the country, who have experienced or are experiencing the same things. Despite suffering PTSD, traumatic brain injury (TBI), amputations and more, our warriors are excited about their involvement in RWTT and are looking forward to this journey.
“I just want to say that I am very happy to be able to participate in this Rehabbing With The Troops Season 1 program, I have gotten so motivated about this that my wife is happy. I was told by her that this is the most motivation she has gotten out of me in 6 years,” participant Felix Garcia had to say about his RWTT experience.
The wounded warriors are ready to go at the RWTT kick-off with the New Orleans Saints!
RWTT Season 1 officially launched June 10th with a big kickoff event at the Wounded Warrior Project headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida. Connected via live webcam feed, several New Orleans Saints worked out simultaneously from their training facility in Louisiana. There was a lot of trash talking and joking around, but both the troops and the pros worked up a good sweat and had a great time.
We encourage others to get involved and follow the warriors’ progress on the Wounded Warrior Arena as well as their Facebook and Twitter pages. Each warrior will continually upload pictures, videos, blogs and workout results. You are also welcome to take the Warrior Challenge and experience RWTT for yourselves! The more fans and supporters our warriors have, the better it is for their recovery and rehabilitation efforts.
As always, thank you for supporting Pro vs. GI Joe as we continue to “do a little for those who do a lot”.
Griff Jenkins of Fox News and Sloan Gibson, president and CEO of the USO, enjoy conversation with the wounded warriors at the vineyard vines-USO Tied to a Cause reception in Georgetown, Washington, DC, June 22, 2010. (USO photo by Katherine Ruddy)
For a few hours on Tuesday night two wounded warriors and their wives escaped to the Vineyard.
The USO and vineyard vines hosted a reception at the retailer’s Georgetown location in Washington, D.C., to celebrate being “Tied to a Cause.”
Tied to a Cause, a campaign through vineyard vines recognizes the efforts of community and grassroots organizations. This month, Tied to a Cause is supporting the USO’s Operation Enduring Care, an initiative to create a national network of care and support for America’s wounded warriors and their families. Proceeds from the sale of the custom USO-vineyard vines ties and totes will be donated to the USO.
The wounded warriors and their wives enjoyed a vineyard vines makeover at the start of the evening and mingled with more than 100 friends of the military, vineyard vines, and the USO, including USO President Sloan Gibson, Fox News’s Griff Jenkins, and the late Tim Russert’s son, Luke.
Perhaps the highlight of the evening, however, was the warriors and Gibson each signing two ties. One will join the many others hanging as decoration in the Georgetown store. The other will be displayed in the USO Arlington office.
The promotion will last through the Fourth of July weekend, with receptions also happening in Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts.
To see more photos, please visit our flickr gallery and enjoy the video below!
