Last night we went to Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel for the 32nd Annual USO-Metro Awards Dinner. The evening’s theme was Celebrating Our Moments Together and honored individuals from each branch of service. We snapped the night’s VIPs, Miss Virginia 2013 Desiree Williams, Food Network star chef Robert Irvine, who received the Merit Award, and Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri.
Over 600 gathered for this inspiring night, which included a full dinner program and a finale by the evening’s youngest honoree Ethan Bortnick, who was presented the Next Generation of Hope award and performed a heart-warming rendition of Anything is Possible. Here, the musical prodigy is bookended by his father Gene Bortnick and USO-Metro Board chair Maureen Cragin.
The night also celebrated the grand opening of the USO Warrior and Family Center in Bethesda, which will have its official ribbon-cutting ceremony today. Almost $700,000 was raised for USO-Metro, whose mission is to serve those who serve, and their families. Here, retired Navy Captain Kevin Wensing, Babs Chase, Naval Commander Andrew Mickley, Army Major Scott Virgil, and American Management Association CEO Ed Reilly.
