USO Entertainment tour visits U.S. military installations in Germany for the first time in two years, bringing joy and connection to U.S. troops overseas

Arlington, VA, July 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nothing says USA like a delicious barbeque. That is precisely what the USO delivered to thousands of troops deployed in Europe as part of a goodwill tour with USO Global Ambassador Wilmer Valderrama, celebrity chef Robert Irvine, and actors Jonathan Tucker and Adam Demos. 

 The tour, held July 5-9, brought joy and uplifting entertainment to our heroes in uniform through visits to multiple military installations throughout Germany.

“Visiting service members who sacrifice so much on behalf of our country is always a privilege and a humbling reminder of the important work of our Armed Forces,” said actor, producer, and USO Global Ambassador Wilmer Valderrama. “These tours have always been a personal highlight for me. I’m so honored that I was able to join the team with my friends for one of the first overseas, in-person tours in over two years to express America’s gratitude for all our troops, their families, and their sacrifice.”

The USO Entertainment tour included many morale-boosting activities, including:  

• Celebrity meet-and-greets and daily lunches with service members at each military installation and military families at USO Grafenwoehr.

• Demonstrations from the Cavalry Regiment at Camp Algier and the Opposing Forces Unit at Camp Albertshof, as well as the Field Artillery Regiment and Engineer Battalion at Camp Grafenwoehr.

• Tour of Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) Academy facility and lunch in the award-winning Philip A. Connelly Dining Facility at Camp Normandy with the current NCO Academy class.

• A barbeque featuring food prepared by Chef Robert Irvine and service member volunteers.

• Team-building games, including “Snatch-It,” an obstacle course, and a hotdog eating contest that gave troops a chance to unwind and connect. They also played lawn games such as beach volleyball, horseshoes, and corn hole.

• Celebrity participation in the Retreat Ceremony and attendance at a reenlistment ceremony.

“Serving overseas, sometimes far from family and friends, can be extremely stressful and isolating, especially for prolonged periods,” said Jennifer Wahlquist, Vice President, USO Global Entertainment. “We’re grateful to the wonderful entertainers who generously donate their time to bring a connection to home to our military.”

Bringing entertainment to the troops is a cornerstone of the USO’s mission to strengthen America’s service members through connection. More than 75,000 service members participate in USO Entertainment tours annually, and more than 50,000 military members have attended virtual celebrity visits through the USO Military Virtual Programming Entertainment Series (USO MVP) during the last two years.

IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. – (May 6, 2021) Kitfox Design Group is excited to announce their latest throw blanket project, the Global War on Terror Throw themed blanket and collection.

The Global War on Terror Throw Blanket is woven in a small family-owned textile mill located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The throw features four iconic rifles from the GWOT Era, along with helicopters, supply drops, and Rip-Its. The firearms featured on the blanket are the AKS-74U (“Krinkov”), M4A1, M16A4, Iraqi Tabuk, the Beretta M9 and the Tokarev. The throw blankets are made on European Jacquard looms with roughly eight miles of American-made, 100% cotton yarn.

“After the success of the Vietnam Throw, I knew I needed to create something to honor the people who had served more recently.” said Sara Westman, the owner of Kitfox Design Group and illustrator behind the blanket. “Near the end of 2021 I opened up a survey for my friends, followers, and customers to contribute memories. It meant a lot to get input from so many wonderful people and help drive my inspiration even further. I don’t believe I could have completed this blanket without everybody’s help. This project was a lot heavier and closer to home than the last. I grew up watching my friends’ parents and later my own friends serve in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Pre-orders open May 6th at 9 am Central and will close at 11:59 pm Central on May 16th. The orders will begin shipping roughly 6-8 weeks after pre-orders close.

The blanket is launching in two sizes, a throw which measures roughly 54”x72” and a queen measuring roughly 62”x84”. The blankets will retail at $125 and $150 + shipping respectively and will ship worldwide. All orders placed on May 6th will receive an early bird gift. In addition to the blanket, Kitfox will also be launching a small collection of Global War on Terror-themed hard goods and pet items. Products include a thrashable Shred-It Energy dog toy filled with crinkle paper, a Catnip Poppy toy, and MRE poo bags.”

 “I worked really hard to find some products that are outside of the industry standard to complete the collection. We had so many people sending photos of their cats and dogs enjoying our previously released Vietnam Throw that it only made sense to include pets with this release.

The blankets and other items in The Global War on Terror Collection are available for purchase on the Kitfox website.

Kitfox Design Group is a marketing and illustration company located in the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Kitfox Design Group specializes in marketing goods for the firearm, automotive, and aerospace industries. Pre-order The Global War on Terror Throw Blanket on their website at www.kitfoxdesigngroup.com