U.S. Navy Adm. Christopher Grady, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and an ensemble of celebrities traveling as part of the USO tour pose for a photo with service members and families after a performance at U.S. Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy, on Dec. 13, 2024. (Haydn N. Smith/U.S. Navy)
The holiday season can be difficult for service members and their families who are serving far from home.
Understanding this hardship, the USO partnered with Adm. Christopher Grady, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and well-known talents to bring its seven-day holiday tour to U.S. military bases across Europe. They reminded those who serve and their families that they are loved and appreciated even from a distance.
“They are never forgotten, and we are deeply grateful for the sacrifices made by both our service members and their families. The USO is proud to partner with great talent and bring these tours to life,” said J.D. Crouch, USO CEO and president.
Beginning in early December, the USO Holiday Tour visited Rota, Spain; Aviano, Naples, Vicenza and Sigonella in Italy; and Souda Bay, Greece. The tour also went aboard the USS Harry S. Truman and brought holiday cheer to sailors who are currently on a scheduled deployment at sea.
The celebrities that performed and hosted meet-and-greets for service members and their families during the tour included former NFL player Vince Wilfork, actor and singer Charles Esten, comedians Hunter Hill and Melissa Villaseñor, and country singer Tyler Rich.
“I don’t have much to offer people that are doing so much for me and mine and for my country, but I’m there to bring what I do have — and what I do have are some songs and a guitar,” said Esten, who is also known for his roles in the TV series “Outer Banks” and “Nashville.”
Charles Esten, actor and singer, performs during the USO Holiday Tour live onboard Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Greece, Dec. 11, 2024. (Andrew Eder/U.S. Navy)
Vince Wilfork, two-time Super Bowl Champion talks to elementary school students during a USO holiday tour at the U.S. Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy, on Dec. 13, 2024. (Haydn N. Smith/U.S. Navy)
Hunter Hill, a comedian, performs for service members, families, and guests in attendance for the 2024 USO Holiday Tour onboard Naval Station Rota, Spain, Dec. 8, 2024. (Drace Wilson/U.S. Navy)
Melissa Villaseñor, comedian and impressionist, performs during the USO Holiday Tour live onboard Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Greece, Dec. 11 2024. (Andrew Eder/U.S. Navy)
Tyler Rich, country music singer, and his band, performs for U.S. Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy service members and families during a USO tour on Dec. 13, 2024. (Haydn N. Smith/U.S. Navy)
Hunter Hill, comedian, Melissa Villasenor, comedian and impressionist, Charles Esten, actor and singer, and Vince Wilfork, two time Super Bowl Champion, take photos with personnel assigned to Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Greece, during the USO Holiday Tour live, Dec. 11 2024. (Andrew Eder/U.S. Navy)
Cmdr. James Kotora, outgoing executive officer, Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, receives a Meritorious Service Medal from Adm. Christopher W. Grady, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, onboard NSA Souda Bay, Greece, Dec. 11, 2024. (Andrew Eder/U.S. Navy)
While not in the spotlight, the celebrities also had lunch at the chow halls where they learned about service members and what they do on a daily basis.
“We would go to lunch with them in the cafeteria and sit down surrounded by the service men and women and find out where they’re from and how they got into this [the military]. It was certainly the calmest part of the day, just sitting down having lunch,” Esten said.
Patriots Hall of Famer and two-time Super Bowl champion Wilfork said he was impressed by each service member’s knowledge of their military equipment and responsibilities.
“It makes you lead with a lot of confidence in our military … it is an amazing feeling, and that’s one of the main things I walked away with,” he said.
The USO Holiday Tour is an annual event that provides entertainment for service members and their families stationed at various locations around the world each holiday season. The tour features a variety of performers, including musicians, comedians and actors.
“We nailed it. We brought them some smiles and hopefully a happy holiday season,” Wilfork said.
U.S. Navy Adm. Christopher Grady, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and an ensemble of celebrities traveling during the 2024 USO Holiday Tour pose for a photo with service members onboard Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, Dec. 12, 2024. (Sebastian Portieleslopez/U.S. Navy)
