WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2004 -- Country music star Chely Wright of "Single White Female" fame is heading to Kuwait and Iraq next week with her band to boost the troops' morale with some foot-stomping entertainment.
"I'm not a Democrat or a Republican. I'm an American," Wright told a crowd at a Labor Day weekend concert in Annapolis, Md. "And whether you're for Kerry or for Bush, what's important is that you show your support for our troops."
Singer Aaron Tippin visits Iraq to entertain troops
When Teddy and Thomas Tippin look around the Thanksgiving table today and ask why Daddy's not there, they may take solace in the news that he is hanging out with their brother-in-law, Kenneth Smith. They won't be told how perilous that situation is since Smith flies Black Hawk helicopters over the war zone.
"I don't think they'll really understand it," said Daddy, aka country singer Aaron Tippin. "They'll enjoy their turkey and know that Dad's off having fun someplace. And I will be having fun. Because I'll be with people I love, people who are defending our country."
Combat boots tapping against the concrete floor kept time with country-singer Josh Gracin's guitar during the taping of a music video at Camp Atterbury.
Scheduled to be aired in January the music-video was being taped for a new television series on Country Music Television.
A young female soldier from Lebanon, Ind., Grimes was featured on the cover of Time magazine in 2003. During her service as an Army medic in Iraq, Grimes also received public notice when she saved the lives of two Times reporters who were injured during a roadside attack.
With their rifles slung across their backs, more than a 1,000 soldiers from Ohio, West Virginia, Illinois, Indiana, the Carolinas and New England filled the large military warehouse turned soundstage during the taping of the video. The soldiers were all at Camp Atterbury to prepare for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan, but they took a break from their combat training to participate in the video.
Several Country music stars, including Toby Keith, continued to show their support for U.S. military troops by traveling to the Middle East. Toby says he saw a different response from the Iraqi people on his latest trip.
"I was over there for 11 or 12 days, Baghdad, all over Iraq, all over Afghanistan. Last year when I went, I didn't feel like it was anything we could ever win. And, this year, in flying over the whole northern and central part of Iraq, the Iraqi people, 4 out of 5 would wave at the choppers that would fly over. So, the Iraqi people want our great boys and girls over there," he said.
In 2003, Charlie Daniels published an Open Letter to the Hollywood Bunch in defense of George W. Bush's Iraq policy. His 2003 book Ain't No Rag: Freedom, Family, and the Flag contains this letter as well as many other personal statements. During the 2004 presidential campaign, Daniels acknowledged that having never served in the military himself, he did not have the right to criticize John Kerry's service record.
Charlie Daniels performed at a USO concert at Camp Victory, Iraq on April 10, 2005
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — Toby Keith and Darryl Worley performed for military families at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., yesterday per President Bush's request.
Bush missed the show, however, saying "one of the problems with being the president is you always end up being the last guy here." Nevertheless, he thanked them "for providing (their) talents in support of our efforts to make the world a more peaceful place."
MacDill is the home base for Central Command where all the Iraq war planning takes place.
"If Darryl Worley, Toby Keith and the Star-Spangled Banner can't get your blood boiling, you're at the wrong place," General Michael DeLong, Deputy Commander of the U.S. Central Command, said to cheers.
Worley and Keith aren't the only country stars boosting soldier morale through song. Travis Tritt will visit with the troops and families of the 24th Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Mo., on Friday.
The show, part of his "Spirit of America" tour, is one of several stops he plans on making at military bases across the country
I loved this part of the article:
Fear is also a factor. "They're scared," country singer Craig Morton, who is in Iraq on the USO's Hope and Freedom Tour 2005, told USA Today.
Oh, the poor widdle babies! These jokers would only arrive at secure airfields surrounded by more security than the Queen of England has, and they are "scared." What a joke.
Your take?
Hmm. They will stand up for a murderer (Tookie) but won't support our troops.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
I want these unpatriotic cowards called out.
Hmm, I guess this means Barbra and Gwyneth are noshows. Johnny Depp, too.
Is there a list of those entertainers who are supporting troops, and a list who refuse to help? That might prove interesting in a year when movie attendance, TV viewing and music sales are all down. Just publish the lists and let people support who they want. Boycott the commies into oblivion.