Pentagon Presents Charlie Daniels With Highest Civilian Award

American Forces Press Service ^ | John J. Kruzel

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, June 25, 2007 – The Pentagon honored music legend Charlie Daniels here today with the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service, the Defense Department’s top civilian award.

Charlie Daniels (left,) country/southern Rock Musician, receives the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for exceptional public service in support of armed troops from Michael L. Dominguez, principal deputy under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, during a visit to the Pentagon June 25, 2007. Dominguez said Daniels has performed for the troops in more than 20 different installations in countries across the globe. Defense Dept. photo by Petty Officer Second Class Molly A. Burgess   
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Perhaps best known for his chart-topping platinum single, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” Daniels has played concerts for servicemembers at military installations around the world. The musician, who has been entertaining troops with his genre-blending style of country, blues and jazz for more than 35 years, says his life-long patriotism was born during World War II.

“I remember the day that Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, and I have taken patriotism into my heart, I have taken the military into my heart, and it has been there ever since,” Daniels said. “The more I go among the military, the more I am convinced that you folks are the best America’s got.

“It is an honor and a privilege to be able to come to wherever the military is, in whatever part of the world they happen to be in, to entertain them,” he said.

The two Pentagon officials who presented the framed award citation and medal to Daniels took turns thanking him for his decades of steadfast support for U.S. troops.

“This is an important opportunity for us to say ‘Thank You’ to Charlie Daniels for his very long service to the men and women in uniform,” Michael L. Dominguez, principal deputy under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said. “He’s performed for them in more than 20 different installations in countries across the globe, volunteering his time to do what he does best, and to bring them a little bit of America and a little bit of ‘Thank You’ from the people of America for the service they provide for our country.”

In addition to visiting troops at bases in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, Korea and elsewhere, Daniels started Operation Heartstrings in November 2005. The program to date has donated 100 Gibson guitars, as well as drums, keyboards, microphones, and more than 13,000 pieces of musical accessories to deployed servicemembers.

Brig. Gen. Mari Kaye Eder, deputy chief of Army Public Affairs, was elated to finally talk to the man who she’s been listening to since childhood.

“I’m thrilled to be here with Charlie Daniels; I grew up with him, though he doesn’t know that,” she said. “Every Sunday after church, my dad would play his records.”

Wherever Daniels goes, he has friends in uniform and throughout the vast network of armed service personnel and family members, Eder said. “It’s my honor to be here to represent just a few of them today,” she added.

Daniels’ multimedia CD and DVD offering titled “Live From Iraq” is set for release tomorrow. The Charlie Daniels Band recorded the music portion during the group’s 2006 visit to bases around Iraq, and the bonus DVD features concert footage and video of the band interacting with military members serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Addressing servicemembers gathered here, Daniels thanked the men and women in uniform for their service to their country.

“I want to thank you for making America free,” he said. “Without you there would be no America.”

Related Articles:
America Supports You: Charlie Daniels Wows Troops in Tribute

Charlie Daniels, country/southern rock musician, listens to Marine Sgt. Joshua Tretter explain the significance of the "Hall of Heroes" during a tour of the Pentagon June 25, 2007. Defense Dept. photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly A. Burgess   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

Charlie Daniels (left,) country/southern Rock Musician, receives the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for exceptional public service in support of armed troops from Michael L. Dominguez, principal deputy under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, during a visit to the Pentagon June 25, 2007. Dominguez said Daniels has performed for the troops in more than 20 different installations in countries across the globe. Defense Dept. photo by Petty Officer Second Class Molly A. Burgess    Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

[SandRat]

Charlie Daniels Awarded at Pentagon!

[Viking2002]

Way to go, big man!!! WOO-HOO!!!!! Give the next one to The Nuge. He's been putting it on the line just as hard.

[jazusamo]

Thank you, Charlie Daniels!

This is a well deserved award.

[EagleUSA]

God Bless him! He is a patriot. Something this country is getting shorter of each day.

[Pajamajan]

Congratulations to Charlie- a staunch unapologetic supporter of our troops (and whooo boy- can he play that fiddle).

[hophead]

WHAT??? No Dixie Sluts?

[MEG33]

Charlie Daniels, a country music singer, plays the fiddle for the crowd at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., July 13, 2006. The Charlie Daniels Band is currently participating in "The Spirit of America Tour" and traveling to different military installations around the country entertaining military personnel.

THANK YOU CHARLIE

[Pajamajan]

Ted Nugent supports the troops whole heartedly too. Now if we can just get him to run for president.... a liberal’s worst nightmare- LOL!

[caisson71]

Well deserved. Charle Daniels is a true American and is not afraid to say and do so.

[Theresawithanh]

Good for Charlie Daniels, excellent news!

God bless the men and women of the United States military!

[goldstategop]

Charlie Daniels Rocks! Its nice to see him honored for his cultural contributions. He's a great American and a true conservative! Cheers!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[afraid]

A real country musician. NOT Lesuck rimes ;).

[advertising guy]

Charlie will just stick in on a wall and keep givin’

.....John Wayne w/ a beard

[AuntB]

Charlie Daniels ping

[Slump Tester]

He remembers Pearl Harbor?

I had no idea he was that old.

I just googled him and he was born in 1936.

[hoosierham]

I am not suprised a five year old would remember the event,or rather that he would remember an event from when he was five years old,considering it was pivotal to everything done in the U.S. for years afterward. I remember a few events from my early years that made a big impression one way or another.Human memory hasn’t been fully explained yet,although I suppose being able to forget is most likely a blessing.Consider the burden of recalling every stupid thing you have ever done.....

[AzaleaCity5691]

he’s actually not really a country musician, he only took up playing country in the 80’s because southern rock had died.

But country music is dead anyway, has been for about 5 years.

[AzaleaCity5691]

Actually, while on that the best albums he made were all before Devil Went Down to Georgia, he was one of the vanguards of southern rock back 30 years ago.

[afraid]

I say around 1985 or so. Eddie Rabbit was good around then and a few others.

[17th Miss Regt]

“I remember the day that Japan bombed Pearl Harbor..."

He is mistaken. The Germans bombed Pearl Harbor. (ref: speech of Bluto Blutarsky, later Senator Blutarsky).

[StarCMC]

Daniels’ multimedia CD and DVD offering titled “Live From Iraq” is set for release tomorrow. The Charlie Daniels Band recorded the music portion during the group’s 2006 visit to bases around Iraq, and the bonus DVD features concert footage and video of the band interacting with military members serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

That's SO COOL!!

[LUV W]

Bet it’s a heck of a CD/DVD!

[Kathy in Alaska]

I just this minute heard this story on The Pentagon Channel.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Good news...........

Ping.

[GodBlessUSA]

Definitely will be buying CD's....CD ;) This is so cool! Thanks so much for the Ping.

Woo Hoo!

[wayne_b24]

he’s been doing some good Gospel music the last few years, too.
he played (very well) at our franklin graham festival last month, by the way.

[blackie]

Good for Charlie Daniels ~ he’s a good man!