Outdoor Legends Tour to Honor Deployed Servicemen and -Women

Outdoor Legends (l-r):  Ryan Klesko, Bill Miller, Jim Zumbo, Ronnie “Cuz” Strickland, Jim Shockey, Jerry Martin, Michael Waddell. Missing from Photo: Brenda Valentine, George Thornton. Photo courtesy of Kevin Tate, Mossy Oak

Warrenton, VA—Armed Forces Entertainment, in conjunction with Paralyzed Veterans of America-Outdoor Recreation Heritage Fund (PVA-ORHF) takes great pleasure in announcing the first-of-its-kind tour, where legends from the outdoor community will tour active-duty military bases to honor America’s currently-deployed, fighting men and women. The tour will take place in early 2012.

The inaugural Outdoor Legends Tour includes an all-star list of participants, including: Jim Zumbo, Jim Shockey, Michael Waddell, Ronnie “Cuz” Strickland, Jerry Martin, Brenda Valentine, Bill Miller, Ryan Klesko and George Thornton, CEO of the National Wild Turkey Federation. Lt. Col. Deal and  MGen. Randy West, USMC (ret), a PVA-ORHF Board member, will help lead the tour.
 
Lt. Col. Lew Deal, USMC (ret) and PVA-ORHF team leader, who was the guiding light behind creation of the tour, said he believes this is the first time celebrities and personalities from the outdoor world have been organized to meet the troops in person. “For those currently serving in a war zone there are few things that mean as much as knowing the folks back home care about you. This is a unique gathering of well-known television hosts, industry leaders and recognized outdoor personalities who are taking the time to tell our troops—in person and face-to-face, that the outdoor community cares about them and is eager to welcome them home…and back into the outdoors.”
 
The Outdoor Legends Tour will spend 10 days touring bases in Southwest Asia, meeting as many soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines as time allows. “It’s a hand-shake tour,” Deal said. “There will be no production crews, no agents or sponsors…just high-profile outdoor people mingling with the troops, posing for some personal photos and saying ‘Thank you for your service.’”
 
As the official Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel overseas, Armed Forces Entertainment and its performers have the honor of supporting soldiers, airmen, marines and sailors by bringing them the very best in American entertainment. Musicians, comedians and celebrities of sports, movies and television are just some of the talented people recruited to perform for our troops. It's their way of saying "thank you" for the sacrifices U.S. military personnel make during their tour of duty.

Ronnie Strickland and George Thornton worked with Deal to make the tour happen, and helped recruit other legends to participate.  In addition, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation President, Jeff Crane, garnered support for this tour and is 100% behind this effort to bring the Outdoor Legends to our military members. Chris Chaffin, PVA-ORHF marketing and PR consultant also helped with recruiting participants.
 
Col Kathleen Weatherspoon, Chief, Armed Forces Entertainment, is looking forward to the feedback on this tour.  The “audience” Armed Forces Entertainment is charged with caring for is extremely diverse in age and personal interests.  “Not everyone wants to hear a rock band, or meet a movie star.…so we try very hard to provide individuals/groups from different genres to reach various segments of the military audience.  We know we have many outdoor enthusiasts in the military, so we hope these ‘Outdoor Legends’ strike a chord with them.” 

A press conference was held January 18, 2012, to announce the tour and was hosted by Mossy Oak, a long-time PVA-ORHF supporter.
 
About Armed Forces Entertainment: Armed Forces Entertainment is the official Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel serving overseas, with priority given to those in contingency operations and at remote and isolated locations. The Department of the Air Force is the executive agent of Armed Forces Entertainment. Founded in 1951, Armed Forces Entertainment brings a touch of home to more than 500,000 troops annually, embracing the best of Americana that stretches across all genres of entertainment. Visit www.armedforcesentertainment.com for more information.

For more information on the Outdoor Legends Tour contact:
 
General tour information:  Lt. Col. Lew Deal, Lew4vets@aol.com or (202) 371-6692
Media contacts: Chris Chaffin, Chris@ChaffinCommunications.com or (321) 729-0280
Armed Forces Entertainment Media: Jennifer Milikien, jennifer@rc-co.com or (210) 845-4567