United Service Organizations
The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed Forces and their families. Since 1941, it has worked in partnership with the Department of War, and later with the Department of Defense (DoD), relying heavily on private contributions and on funds, goods, and services from various corporate and individual donors. Although it is congressionally chartered, it is not a government agency.
Actor Mickey Rooney, a World War II Bronze Star recipient, honoring the USO in 2000
Irving Berlin singing aboard USS Arkansas, 1944
Female USO troupe entertaining an American soldier, 1944.
US Coast Guard, 1st show in Vietnam, 1970
A congressional charter is a law passed by the United States Congress that states the mission, authority, and activities of a group. Congress has issued corporate charters since 1791 and the laws that issue them are codified in Title 36 of the United States Code. The first charter issued by Congress was for the First Bank of the United States.
Organization advertising its congressional charter
Georgetown University, founded in 1789, became the first federally-chartered institution of higher education in the United States when President James Madison signed the university's charter into law in 1815.
