USO 'Toast to the Troops' care package stuffing party/concert at NAS Jax

The event continues the third year of the USO "Toast to the Troops" campaign and will include a special barbecue and celebration concert by country music star and Army veteran Craig Morgan.

The NAS Jacksonville Stuffing Party will begin at noon and the concert, which is free and open to service members and others with access to the base, will begin at 5 p.m.

Through "Toast to the Troops," Jack Daniel's is collecting personal messages of support, or "toasts" to include in USO care packages for service members. Since the program began in 2005, the Distillery has hosted stuffing parties at five other military installations across the country and has sent tens of thousands of care packages and toasts to our deployed troops.

"This campaign is Jack Daniel's way of letting our friends serving in the military know that we support them and truly appreciate everything they do for our country," said Jack Daniel's Brand Director Americas for Jack Daniel Tim Rutledge.

"These events also give us the opportunity to recognize and thank the military spouses who sacrifice so much on the homefront."

Citizens can go to www.jackdaniels.com and www.usocares.org to fill out the special "toasts" that will be included in USO care packages for troops deploying to Afghanistan,

Iraq and other overseas locations, as well as troops arriving and departing on rest and recuperation flights. The care packages include an assortment of items specifically requested by service members, such as prepaid international calling cards, toiletries, sunscreen, playing cards, disposable cameras and snacks.

"We consider Jack Daniel's one of our most important sponsors," said Ronald Wise, director of the USO Care Package Program.

"These events boost the morale of not only our servicemen and women, but also their families. The USO is deeply in their debt."

Craig Morgan has performed at every USO/Jack Daniel's Toast to the Troops event and has entertained troops in Iraq on the USO's Sergeant of the Army holiday tour. The 10-year Army veteran is also a recipient of the USO Merit Award, presented by the USO of Metropolitan Washington, an honor shared by the late Bob Hope.

"I know firsthand how much care packages and messages from home mean to our soldiers overseas," said Morgan.

"When Jack Daniel's asked me to join up with them for 'Toast to the Troops' two years ago, I knew immediately that this was something I wanted to be a part of. Working so closely with thetroops' familiesis great, and getting to be with the Soldiers when the packages arrive hasbeen unbelievably rewarding."

During his time on active duty, Morgan participated in Operation Just Cause in Panama, tours in Korea and other conflicts. He had back-to-back No. 1 hits with "That's What I Love About Sunday" and "Redneck Yacht Club."

His current album, Little Bit of Life peaked at No. 6 earlier this year and has produced hits such as "Tough," a tribute to breast cancer survivors and his current single, "International Harvester."

Because of heightened security, individuals can no longer send letters and packages addressed to "Any Service Member." Supported by the Department of Defense, the Operation USO Care Package program is the best way to send a message of encouragement directly to a service member and provide "a touch of home."

The USO has sent out more than one million care packages since the program's inception in 2001.

More information on Operation USO Care Package and other USO programs can be found at www.uso.org.