Days' James Reynolds In Georgia

Press release:

ARLINGTON, Va. – Actor James Reynolds, known as Commissioner Abe Carver on NBC’s Days of Our Lives, will visit three Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS) in Fort Stewart, Ga., March 17-18. As part of the USO Celebrity Education Program and the National Education Association’s (NEA) “Read Across America” program, he will spend quality time with dependent children of soldiers experiencing multiple deployments and talk about the importance of books. Reynolds will also read Jon J. Muth’s book, “Zen Shorts,” participate in theater games and hold Q&A sessions.

Launched in 1997, NEA’s “Read Across America” program focuses the country’s attention on literacy and motivating children to read, and master basic skills. Recognized worldwide by DoDEA, a civilian agency that serves the children of U.S. service members and Department of Defense civilian employees, the annual reading initiative is celebrated every spring and is officially observed on March 2, the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss.

“I enjoy touring with the USO and supporting our troops,” says Reynolds. “Being an actor and a Vietnam veteran, I recognize the importance of reading and understand what military kids nowadays go through. It’s not easy and anything I can do to help them, I am there.”Reynolds joined the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating high school. Serving far from his family home in Oskaloosa, Kansas, he was stationed in Hawaii and later deployed to Vietnam. After serving more than a year in combat, Reynolds was wounded and returned to the U.S., where he was eventually discharged. A long-time supporter of the U.S. military, he has embarked on five USO tours and was the first person to participate in the USO Celebrity Education Program, a specialized tour that allows celebrities to share their talents and show their appreciation for service members and their families.

Best known for his role on Days of Our Lives, Reynolds has logged more airtime than any other African American actor in U.S. television history. Acting for more than 22 years on Days and another year as the Emmy-nominated star of NBC's Generations, he averages 100 of airtime each year. A seasoned thespian, Reynolds received an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama as well as an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series for his work on Days.

Despite his hectic schedule, he and his wife own and operate the Fremont Centre Theatre, where just last year he directed National Pastime starring his son, Jed, as Jackie Robinson.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, there are currently 1.4 million active-duty U.S. service members and 1.2 million members of the National Guard and Reserves, with many serving overseas and most serving away from home. In additional to the many other programs and services provided by the USO, entertainment tours are essential to fulfilling the USO's mission of boosting the morale of service members stationed far from home. Entertainers who recently participated in USO tours include Kix Brooks, Neal McCoy, Dave Annable, Minka Kelly and Elliott Yamin, among others. AT&T, Inc. is the official telecommunications sponsor of USO entertainment tours. For a list of recent and upcoming USO tours, visit www.uso.org/whatwedo/entertainment.

To learn more about the USO or to find out how to support the troops, visit http://www.uso.org/.