By Tim Saunders on
Actress Renee Zellweger was on hand at the annual USO of Metropolitan Washington's award dinner on Wednesday, March 25, to honor Al Franken for 10 years of service entertaining troops overseas.
The 27th annual awards dinner was held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, with 34 of the 98 living Medal of Honor recipients in attendance.
“I love this event,” said Zellweger. “It is so special to have been invited here tonight to dine in honor of our military and in celebrating the work that the USO of Metropolitan Washington does. I’ve met a lot of true heroes through the USO. The hardest road the soldiers walk is the one he or she faces after the battle is over. It’s inspiring, but it’s extraordinarily moving. I have to say, it’s tremendously humbling.”
Franken also gave thanks to the troops and recalled some of the experiences that he has had during his time with the USO.
“Some of the troops knew I’d been a critic of the way we’d gotten into the war, and the way we were doing the war,” he said. “But in a way, they didn’t care. It just told them that everybody in the States supported them. It didn’t matter what your politics were. What you learn, of course, is that they cheer you up, and that you leave with more than what you came with.”
Also in attendance at the event were professional wrestler Mick Foley, actress and model Leann Tweeden, Miss American 2009 Katie Stam and several National Football League former players.
Copyright © 2009 Look to the Stars
