ARLINGTON , Va., March 12, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
WHAT: USO Tour Led By Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General Paul J. Selva
WHO: Country music star/Army vet Craig Morgan
Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell
Carolina Panthers cornerback Charles Tillman
UFC star Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone
UFC star Anthony Pettis
WHEN: Winter 2016
WHERE: Various locations
Note. For security reasons, the country names and tour dates cannot be released at this time.
WHY: The nation's second highest ranking military officer, Air Force General Paul J. Selva, will soon head out on his first USO tour as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and celebrate the USO's 75th anniversary. On a mission to visit as many military personnel and installations around the world as possible, Selva will lead an eight-day, seven-country USO tour featuring a a variety of stars from music, pageantry, football and martial arts.
Among those to accompany General Selva are country music star and Army vet Craig Morgan, Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell, Carolina Panthers cornerback Charles Tillman and UFC stars Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone and Anthony Pettis. This trip will mark the seventh USO tour for Morgan, second for Tillman and first USO experience for the remainder of the group.
February 4, 2016, marked the USO's 75th anniversary and the official kick off of a yearlong celebration around the world. As mirrored by Selva's tour abroad, the USO is on a mission of connection and is committed to strengthening America's service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country. Visit uso.org/connects to learn more and join Selva and his special guests as they help us reach the goal of delivering more than 1 million messages of support to service members and their families worldwide.
QUOTES: Attributed to General Paul J. Selva:
"It is an absolute honor to lead this tour around the world and join my special celebrity guests in celebrating the USO's 75-year history of standing by our side and taking care of us and our families. The USO brings the spirit of home to our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines serving worldwide, touching 75,000 lives every single day. It takes a special kind of person and a special kind of organization to do what the USO does 365 days a year."
Attributed to Alan Reyes, Senior Vice President of Operations, Programs and Entertainment:
"As a Captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve, a service member who has deployed to multiple regions and now a USO staff member… I know first-hand how important senior military support and USO entertainment tours, like this, are for those in uniform. They are more than just a visit or a show… they're an acknowledgement that someone out there cares and a special connection to the things military personnel value most – family, home and country. The USO is proud to partner with General Selva and all of the wonderful celebrities accompanying the Vice Chairman."
Attributed to Craig Morgan:
"For me personally, it's always a huge honor to go out on a USO tour. It's a lot like going home. Although I am no longer in the military – the military will always be a big part of who I am. I am incredibly grateful to General Selva for the invitation to join him as he journeys around the world to visit our troops and celebrate a major milestone – the USO's 75th anniversary. It's going to be a special, special trip."
Attributed to Charles Tillman:
"I grew up with a father who was in the military and it's always really special anytime I get to meet and talk with military dependents. I know what it's like on the other end – to be a military family who moves around a lot, lives on military bases and encounters both the ups and downs of military life. I'm really looking forward to the trip and can't thank General Selva and his team, as well as the USO enough for including me."
About the USO
The USO strengthens America's military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country, throughout their service to the nation. At hundreds of locations worldwide, we are united in our commitment to connect our service members and their families through countless acts of caring, comfort and support. The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. Our programs, services and entertainment tours are made possible by the American people, support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our volunteers and staff.
In addition to individual donors and corporate sponsors, the USO is supported by President's Circle Partners: AT &T, the BNSF Railway Foundation, Clark Construction Group, LLC, The Coca-Cola Company, Johnson & Johnson, Kroger, NFL and Four-Star Partners: BIC, ConAgra Foods, FedEx, GEICO, JCPenney, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, Starbucks, TKS and the Wawa Foundation. We are also supported through the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-11381). To join us in this important mission, and to learn more about the USO, please visit uso.org.