Washington Football Salute Touching Base Tour heads to Hampton Roads & Central Virginia

Since 1966, the NFL and USO have been aligned in partnership, committed to honoring and celebrating our service members and their families year-round through the Salute to Service platform. Through the lens of football, we collectively strive to keep our service members connected to the things they hold dear; family, home and country.

For the past eight years, the Washington Football Team has worked regularly with the USO Hampton Roads and Central Virginia (USOHRCV) to recruit service members and military families to attend the Washington Football Training Camp Military Appreciation Day in Richmond, VA, presented by GEICO Military. A trusted partner, Washington Salute reconnected with USOHRCV to distribute Touching Base Tour appreciation packages. Washington Salute, the Official Military Platform of the Washington Football Team, kicked off their Touching Base Tour, presented by Geico Military alongside Buffalo Wild Wings on October 5, 2020.

Their mission: to connect with 1,500 service members and thank them for their service throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the help of USO Hampton Roads and Central Virginia (USOHRCV) and USO Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore (USO Metro DC), Washington Football Salute traveled to 15 major military installations, providing appreciation packages which included a $10 gift card to Buffalo Wild Wings, a Washington Football Salute virus-protection face mask, and a co-branded Washington Football Salute postcard of appreciation.

Their first stop in the Hampton Roads and Central Virginia area was the USO Fort Lee Center on October 14, 2020. Members of Washington Salute, along with USOHRCV staff and volunteers distributed the appreciation packages and USOHRCV goodies through a drive-thru style pick-up or socially distanced walk-by fashion.

The next stop on the installation was the Kenner Army Health clinic, offering the appreciation packages for essential personnel who could not stop by during their work hours!

The next three stops of the tour occurred on November 2, 2020. That day, USO Fort Eustis was the first stop, with about 150 service members stopping by the center to receive their packages.

USO Langley AFB was the next stop, where the team met someone who named himself, the biggest Washington Football Fan in the area.

Finally, Washington Football Salute ended their tour at USO Naval Station Norfolk, where they met a new furry friend: Nala of the USOHRCV Canine Comfort Crew!

Through local USO center engagements, USO2GO, the player ambassador program, flag football initiatives, and NFL talent tours, the USO’s partnership with the NFL continues its legacy of keeping service members connected to family, home and country through the sport of football.

Thank you Washington Football Salute for Being a Force Behind the Forces!