Building on a long tradition of cooperation and good will, the USO and the Country Music Association (CMA) have partnered to send 80 wounded troops and family members to this year's CMA Music Festival. Military families selected to attend this event will be chosen from nearby Fort Campbell, home to one of the largest populations of wounded soldiers in the United States.

For the first time, a Mobile USO unit will also be present in theFestival's Fun Zone, which is free and open to the public. Event attendees will have an opportunity to tour the unit and get more information about the USO and how the organization helps soldiers andtheir families around the world. A special hospitality area will be set up for service members and their families.

Visitors to the Mobile USO will also be encouraged to participate in the"Messages from the Homefront" program. This will give them the chance to write a message of encouragement and support on a specially designed poster of Kellie Pickler from her recent USO tour to Iraq that will be displayed in USO centers around the world after the Festival.

"The expansion of our relationship with CMA to the annual CMA Music Festival marks an important milestone for the USO," says Edward A.Powell, USO president and CEO. "The Country Music community has always been a vocal supporter of our troops. It is our hope that they will come away from the CMA Music Festival with a better understanding of how we work together to bring a piece of home to the brave men and women of our military and their families."

In addition to partnering to provide Festival tickets to deserving service members, the USO and CMA will join with Borders to donate CDs and DVDs to soldiers around the world. Attendees will be able to purchase the specially-priced discs at any of the three Borders locations at the Festival. The USO will deliver these to troops serving overseas.

Labels: CMA Music Festival