Carson Daly, Zachary Levi and Joel Moore Talk Up the Troops
by Big Hollywood
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Posts Tagged ‘USO’
USO: How Hollywood Serves
by Jeremy D. BoreingThe last guy you want to meet in the entertainment industry is a writer. We just aren’t very interesting. Sure, guys like Joss Whedon seem cool, but that’s only when compared to other writers. Put him in a room with any actor, musician, or even Key Grip, and Whedon is the pasty guy in the corner having a conversation about the vagaries of the flux capacitor with himself. So when I had the opportunity last week to travel with a small group of actors (Zachary Levi, Joel David Moore, Kal Penn, and Christian Slater) to the Middle East and Africa with the USO, I jumped at the chance. Finally. A perk.
For my actor friends, though, there was a bit more trepidation. After all, they were the actual celebrities on this celebrity tour, the ones people would want to meet. I doubt they are alone. In fact, I suspect that a big reason why more actors in Hollywood don’t volunteer their time with the USO is that they simply don’t know what the experience will be like. Sure they’ve seen video of Bob Hope out entertaining crowds of troops, but as an actor, you don’t carry your show on the road. Will the troops even care that you are there? What will you have to offer them? Is it uncomfortable? Is it political? Fortunately for me, the actors in my party decided to give it a try in spite of these questions. Here is what we learned. (more…)
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Ride 2 Recovery: Day 6 — Hampton to Virginia Beach
by Ride 2 RecoveryJoin us for our next events:
California Challenge – Oct. 4-10
Florida Challenge – Dec. 12-17
Day 6 was set to be a 35-mile ride from Hampton to Virginia Beach. During the course of the ride, the riders would be given a tour of Ft. Monroe, one of the most picturesque military bases in the world. It is also the location where the African slave ships would come to the new world in the 1600s and 1700s. While on base, we stopped to take the big team picture.
"American Idol" David Cook
After the tour, we had a stop at the nearby American Legion post to load up the bikes to drive through the Hampton/Norfolk tunnel. With the help of the Virginia State and Virginia Beach Police, the ride restarted on the other side. (more…)
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Ride 2 Recovery: Day 5 — Williamsburg to Hampton
by Ride 2 RecoveryJoin us for our next events:
California Challenge – Oct. 4-10
Florida Challenge – Dec. 12-17
Day 5 – Williamsburg to Hampton saw the return of Patty Collins to the Ride. Patty has been very motivational for all of us as we have seen her develop over the past few rides. It was a year ago that Patty made her debut at a R2R event participating in last years East Coast Challenge.
Riding along the James River
Day 5 also saw the debut of Jackie and Dr. Wayne on the tandem. Jackie has never ridden a bike before, not even as a kid until she showed up at the start of the Memorial Challenge. She has come a long way since day one. She was quite shy and kept to herself and now is fully integrated into the group. She is fully enjoying the R2R experience. (more…)
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Ride 2 Recovery: Day 4 – Richmond to Williamsburg
by Ride 2 RecoveryDay 4 started off with a visit from Virginia Governor Tim Kaine. The Governor has been pushing many Veteran’s benefit programs as Virginia has a large military presence. Gov. Kaine is also a cycling enthusiast and pledged to take part in next year’s event.
Virginia Governor Tim Kaine talks to the media after speaking to the Wounded Warriors
The route to Williamsburg again took the riders through some of the greatest roads in Virginia. The 72-mile route had a couple of long climbs, something that the riders have not seen many of.
Williamsburg is part of the Historic Triangle of Virginia, which also includes Jamestown and Yorktown, is among the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Williamsburg is the original Capitol of Virginia dating back to 1698. Williamsburg was established in 1632. Prior to the arrival of the English colonists at Jamestown in the Colony of Virginia in 1607, the area, which became Williamsburg, was largely wooded. (more…)
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Ride 2 Recovery: Day 3 — Fredericksburg to Richmond
by Ride 2 RecoveryDay 3 started with a great weather report as the front that threatened rain had passed thru and the weather was mid 70’s, perfect for a great ride though the Virginia countryside.
The 65 mile ride to Richmond along a good portion of Virginia Bike Route 1 promised to be a lot of fun.
Bike Route 1
Most everyone knows that Richmond was the capitol of the Confederacy, but did you know that: In 1775, Patrick Henry delivered his famous “Give me Liberty or Give me Death” speech in Richmond and in 1781, under the command of Benedict Arnold, Richmond was burned by British troops. (more…)
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Ride 2 Recovery: Day 2 Manassas to Fredericksburg
by Ride 2 RecoveryThe Riders awoke to cloudy skies and occasional rain. Not exactly the way everyone hoped to start day 2 of the Memorial Challenge. With group morale at a high level, the riders and staff actually looked forward towards the ride to Fredericksburg. The 55 miles ride was relatively flat with 1 sharp 10% climb just before the arrival to the hotel.
The Battle of Fredericksburg was remembered as one of the most one-sided battles of the American Civil War. It brought an early end the Union campaign against the Confederate capital of Richmond.
US Marine Adam Jahnke on his R2R Bicycle
After a long wait, the Ride 2 Recovery has finally unveiled the brand new Ride 2 Recovery bicycle. It is an all carbon frame and fork with Shimano black group and wheels, Michelin Tires and Cane Creek head parts.
The bike were made possible with a grant from the USO and the support of former Giant product manager, Kevin Cox. The bikes feature a USO logo and corporate slogan. The bikes are given to the wounded warriors under a permanent loan program. The bikes have a retail value of $2700. (more…)
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Ride 2 Recovery: Memorial Challenge
by Ride 2 Recovery
National Memorial Concert
The second annual Ride 2 Recovery Memorial Challenge is from May 25-30. For the first time, the event started with a cycling clinic featuring Olympic cyclist Wayne Stetina and former Mercury Cycling Team mechanic Scott Moro. With support from cycling professional like Gary Hanson and Neil Stewart, Vietnam vets Jim Penseyres and Duane Wagner, all of the R2R participants had a great deal of knowledge to learn the ins and outs of riding and healing.
The clinic really helped get the R2R participants oriented on their bikes and almost all of them had their riding positions fixed up and this will make for a much more comfortable ride.
The Wounded Warriors that participate in the Ride 2 Recovery events have come from all over the US and almost all service branches are represented. Many of these brave men and women have seen their friends and fellows soldiers not return from Iraq and Afghanistan. Memorial Day is not just another day off. (more…)
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Ride 2 Recovery: An Amazing Journey!
by Adam BaldwinThe warrior cried, but not for himself.
His tears flowed from the blessing of the little girl — the one with the angel-voice. And, as we stood in ovation in the American Legion Hall her lyric, “… I once was lost, but now I’m found. Was blind, but now I see” reminded him why his military service and the forty-odd years since had all been worthwhile: her Freedom, our Freedom.
As our tearful eyes locked, he restrained in a whisper, “See that? That’s why I lost my legs in Vietnam.” But then he smiled, “losing my legs is the best thing that ever happened to me… it’s why I am here right now, and it’s given me a great life.”
Of course, I can never truly know the depth of my new friend Duane Wagner’s struggles in meeting his post Vietnam war challenges, but I was privileged to share with him a true moment of ‘amazing grace’ in the knowledge that his sacrifices – and all those of his compatriots — were not in vain. (more…)
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R2R Texas Challenge: Day 6 — W. Encourages Wounded Warriors
by Ride 2 RecoveryThe day got off to a great start when former President George Bush showed up to visit the wounded warriors and give us a big sendoff on our way to Arlington and Texas Rangers Ballpark.
The weather again cooperated with a brisk tailwind to get to the ballpark in time to throw out the first pitch. The last day was full of celebration and looking back at the week that brought us all together. The ride is full of stories that none of us will ever forget. (more…)
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R2R Texas Challenge: Day 2–San Marcos to Austin…Texas Pride
by Ride 2 RecoveryThe day got started with cloudy, cold, and windy weather as the group made its way to breakfast. By the time the ride briefing was over and it was time to start, the skies became blue and the roads dry. It was a beautiful day to ride to Austin. On Day 2, the ride always goes smoother and the pace picks up a bit as everyone settles into their rhythm. Despite a brisk head wind, the groups finally formed and the fun got into full swing….
Each day along the route, the USO Canteen sets up a lunch rest stop which is a great relief for all of the riders. Today, the town of Manchaca hosted the ride. A local insurance agent, Lety Johnson, was so happy to have met us–her son is leaving on Saturday for US Marine bootcamp. She hopes the group comes back next year so she can sponsor lunch. (more…)
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The Hollywood Awards Show Not Shown on TV
by Andrew Breitbart
This week’s Washington Times column:
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. | After spending two weeks on something akin to a fact-finding mission in depressed New York and depleted Washington, D.C., I found no answers to our nation’s mounting ills. I discovered that there is much to be angry about and unlimited reasons for deep concern. But on the evening after my return, the stars aligned on the outskirts of Los Angeles at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, and for a brief moment I felt safe again in America.
On Saturday, my wife and I were privileged to attend the second annual “Celebration of Freedom Gala.” We joined more than 1,000 others who, like us, were electrified to honor 43 of the 98 living Medal of Honor recipients. We also gave our thanks to former first lady Nancy Reagan, war hero and actor Charles Durning, and Gen. David H. Petraeus. (more…)
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