Earlier this year, the USO bestowed its legendary Merit Award on USO Global Ambassador Wilmer Valderrama. Though many recognize him as a quick-witted actor always ready with a joke, Valderrama has quietly worked with the military community for years to bring laughter, positivity and comfort.
‘Serving those who serve’
Valderrama has entertained audiences of every age demographic and genre over the years, including “That ‘70s Show,” “Handy Manny,” “Yo Momma,” “Encanto” and “NCIS.” Yet even with public adoration and an impressive resume, he yearned to do more. Along with other advocacy and community care, he found his calling in “serving those who serve” with the USO.
“I’ve always been so incredibly humbled by what this country has provided me,” Valderrama said. “As someone who comes from immigrant parents and has been able to experience the American dream, appreciating their sacrifices made me also reflect on who else has sacrificed for all of us to have what we have today. It was a very evident road to those who are [ready to] sacrifice the ultimate for this country.”
Since 2007, Valderrama has gone on more than a dozen overseas tours to visit troops, visited recovering service members in hospitals and sat with Gold Star family members as they share their stories. While it can be a heavy mission at times, he maintains that it is well worth it.
“It’s been the joy of my life,” said Valderrama. “I’ve discovered so much about myself, but I’ve also discovered so much about who we are as Americans, and the type of individual — the heart and the soul of the individual — that wears the uniform, and it’s made me really proud.”
“The USO has kind of facilitated [a mission to pay it forward, and] it’s just a beautiful platform for me to just be able to continue to bring a piece of home to those who are overseas, those who are home and then also a path for me to connect to their families as well,” he added. “The USO has created such a well-rounded program that really touches everyone in our military community.”
USO Merit Award
On May 29, Valderrama was given the USO Merit Award during the organization’s annual gala. This award is bestowed upon public figures who have dedicated themselves to raising awareness for the USO mission and serving the military community.
“It was just nothing short of incredibly humbling,” he said, describing his reaction to receiving the award.
“[The Merit Award] is just something that I am incredibly proud of — proud for what it represents but most importantly, incredibly proud of the opportunity that I was given to continue to pay forward what I’ve been so blessed to have.”
Even while acknowledging the prestige of the award, he humbly (and repeatedly!) shifted the spotlight to others. He highlighted the USO, the service members and the military community before explaining that often the most meaningful things in life are uncomplicated. Showing up for others, for example, is “effortless” and “simple,” but it can be the most meaningful thing to do for someone else.
Working toward a better future
Valderrama has been known to live in the moment, but these days he often considers how his actions now will build a better future for our children. His work with the USO allows him to connect with troops and their families on a personal level, and has fueled his life’s mission to be a light in the world.
“I hope that my stories … everything I do professionally … whatever it is, that it somehow provides a space for healing and unity and — hopefully — understanding.”
Unity is a common theme in Valderrama’s message. The actor outlined the importance of “respecting and loving those who are our neighbors” and explained how the military can set the example.
“You know, one of the things that I love about the Armed Forces is their seamless example of unity. When you wear the uniform, it doesn’t matter what you look like, doesn’t matter where you come from. You’re there doing something together, and I think that’s something that I hope that we never forget: that we’re in this together. No matter who you are, what you believe in, where you come from, this country is a country that we all must nurture, cultivate and make sure we take care of together,” Valderrama said.
“Let’s never forget what we all have in common in humanity, and [make] sure that we continue to promote what makes this country so beautiful — the fact that we can be a united state of America.”
Read more about Valderrama’s life in his memoir “An American Story: Everyone’s Invited,” and follow him on Instagram to see where daily life takes him.
