In early 2012 legends from the hunting world—including Bill Miller from the North American Hunting Club (NAHC)—will tour active-duty American military bases to honor men and women fighting for our freedoms.
This is the inaugural "Outdoor Legends Tour," and will include an all-star list of long-standing outdoor industry icons, including: NAHC Executive Director Bill Miller; outdoor TV host and former Major League Baseball player Ryan Klesko; veteran outdoor writer Jim Zumbo; Mossy Oak Senior Vice President Ronnie “Cuz” Strickland; outdoor writer, wilderness guide and outdoor TV host Jim Shockey; professional hunter and U.S. Navy veteran Jerry Martin; outdoor TV host Michael Waddell; Brenda Valentine (aka "First Lady of Hunting"); and National Wild Turkey Federation CEO George Thornton. The tour will be lead by retired U.S. Marines Lt. Col. Lew Deal and MGen. Randy West.
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 handshake tour," Deal said. "There will be no production crews, no agents or sponsors ... just high-profile outdoor people mingling with the troops ..."
According to Armed Forces Entertainment, the official Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel overseas, the Tour is a way of saying "thank you" to U.S. military forces during their tour of duty. Armed Forces Entertainment and the Paralyzed Veterans of America Outdoor Recreation Heritage Fund are the groups primarily responsible for organizing the "Outdoor Legends Tour."
Miller says he’s deeply honored to be a part of this new event. “I'm thrilled more than words can express to be invited on the first 'Outdoor Legends Tour.' It’s wonderful to be included in this all-star group, but even more so to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to our active servicemen and women to say 'thank you.' I hope our presence will bring smiles and fond memories to our soldiers. We can never thank them enough for their sacrifices in protecting our freedoms as hunters, outdoorsmen and Americans."
Pictured from left to right: Ryan Klesko, Bill Miller, Jim Zumbo, Ronnie “Cuz” Strickland, Jim Shockey, Jerry Martin and Michael Waddell. (Not pictured: Brenda Valentine and George Thornton)