The USO World Gala is an annual event which pays tribute to the men and women of the United States . Attended by , , dignitaries, and more, the annual event is produced by the United Service Organizations, which has provided morale, welfare and recreational services to U.S. military personnel and their families for over six decades. On October 1, 2008, Elmo made an appearance at the 67th annual Gala. Other attendees included Robin Williams, Sam Donaldson, and Dennis Farina.