Diahann Carroll and Bob Hope.Photo: Courtesy USO
The United Service Organizations — the military support organization better known as theUSO— is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, even as it adjusts its morale-boosting programming amid theCOVID-19 pandemic.
The non-profit was founded in 1941 when six civilian organizations pooled their resources to entertain the troops during World War II.Bob Hopeperformances became a staple, and since then the organization has grown and evolved into an unwavering source of support for deployed service members.
Marilyn Monroe.Courtesy USO
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Jon Stewart on a USO tour in 2018.Courtesy USO
To commemorate its 80th anniversary, the USO named singerKellie Picklerand actorWilmer Valderramaas global ambassadors.
Both are USO tour veterans: Pickler’s first USO tour was to Iraq in 2007 and she has since gone on 12 tours. Valderrama went to Germany in 2007 for his first USO tour and has since gone on eight tours.
Kellie Pickler.Courtesy USO
Wilmer Valderrama.Courtesy USO
Pickler said in a USO release that being a global ambassador enables her to “help shine a light on something that matters,” which is letting troops “know we don’t take them for granted.”
Valderrama said, “Touring with the USO has been one of the proudest moments of my career because it has given me the chance to pay my respect and personally express my gratitude to our servicemen and women.”
source: people.com
