By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
June 26, 2007 – Standing in the Pentagon briefing room here, preparing to record a video message to troops deployed abroad, 70-year-old Charlie Daniels' jaws, covered in tufts of white whiskers, work away at a wad of gum. As the camera starts rolling, he halts production. "Oh, wait, I almost forgot!" he says in a country drawl, spitting his gum into a tissue. "My wife keeps yelling at me for going on TV with gum in my mouth."
Daniels appeared here to accept the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service. The musician, perhaps best known for his chart-topping single, "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," describes himself a blue-collar kind of guy. Instead of his signature "bull rider" Stetson hat, Daniels' silvery-gray hair was covered by a baseball cap that featured a bald eagle poised before the American flag.
For more than 35 years, Daniels has entertained servicemembers with his unique blend of country, blues and rock music. The reason for his enduring support: Because men and women in uniform allow his family to sleep well at night.
"The people in our military are the best America has," he said. "Without them, we would have no country."
The Charlie Daniels Band has performed for troops at bases in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, Korea and elsewhere. Daniels begins every show the same way, he says, telling the audience, "I bring you greetings from the United States of America!" and ends each show by signing autographs and posing for photos.
An encounter with one enlisted man had an especially profound impact on Daniels, providing inspiration for a song he titled "When I Get Back from Iraq." The first verse of the bluesy ballad, Daniels recalled, centers on the moment an Iraqi veteran returns home from duty.
"One of the toughest guys I ever saw walked into a (backstage) tent, and he looked like he could bite a railroad spike in two. I mean, he had the shaved head and the muscles - he looked like Rambo on steroids," Daniels remembered. "I didn't know what he wanted, but he just came back and started crying.
"This was one of the toughest guys I ever saw, and it was like (he said), 'You remind me of home, and there's something at home I miss,'" Daniels said. "It was special that this man felt enough at home with me that he would break down and cry, because he did not look the type."
In a voice husky with emotion, Daniels recalled the song's lyrics.
"When I get back from Iraq, I'm gonna go stormin' through my front door," he said. "I'm gonna grab a hold of my baby and love her like she ain't been loved before."
After decades of touring, the septuagenarian still has a hard time staying in any one place for very long. Daniels and the band regularly tour America, honoring troops as they go.
"Every night I pay homage to the military in our show, and I can tell by the reactions in the crowd that support for our military in United States of America is strong; I mean, very, very strong," he said. "I can't tell you what's going on in the halls of power, and the penthouses and the corporate offices of America, because I don't live in that world.
"I'm very much a blue-collar person; I come from a blue-collar background. And we play for a lot of people in a year's time, and I'm here to tell you, they support the military," he said.
Daniels said his lifelong sense of patriotism and support for U.S. troops was born during World War II. He remembers sitting around the radio and listening to reports that Japan had bombed the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
"We never ever thought we would lose," he recalled about the war. "We always had that feeling -- everybody, grown folks, kids, everybody -- knew we were going to win the Second World War. My brand of patriotism came during that time."
The musician said his perception of American culture isn't formed by today's mainstream media.
"We travel this country coast to coast and border to border every year," he said, "and I know that a lot of people get their impressions by watching commercial television or reading the newspaper, and I find that support for the military in this country is so much more solid and so much more loyal and widespread than you would ever get from watching TV or reading the newspaper.
"America supports the military, and it's important for me to know that the military knows that," he said.
The Charlie Daniels Band documented their last two visits to bases around Iraq and recorded a CD/DVD multimedia offering titled "Live From Iraq," which was released today.
Showing posts with label charlie daniels band. Show all posts
Showing posts with label charlie daniels band. Show all posts
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Pentagon Presents Charlie Daniels With Civilian Award
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
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 for his support of military personnel. 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."
American Forces Press Service
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 for his support of military personnel. 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."
Monday, May 21, 2007
Charlie Daniels Band Rocks New River
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
May 21, 2007 – The devil may have gone down to Georgia, but Charlie Daniels stopped off at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., to show his appreciation to the servicemembers stationed there May 16. The country music star and his band entertained about 5,500 Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C., and New River, as well as their guests. Saying the musician got a warm welcome may be a bit understated, Paul Quinn, director of Marine Corps Community Services at New River, said.
"We've had a lot of shows here, and this one was a high-spirited one," he said. "It started off with the 'Tennessee Waltz,' and ended up with 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia.'"
In the midst of the entertainment, Daniels expressed his appreciation for what the servicemembers have done for the country. Before that, however, he had focused his attention on 70 Marines recovering from injuries suffered in Iraq, and their guests.
The wounded warriors, part of a unit stationed at Camp Lejeune, were special guests at the concert.
"Before the show itself started, we gave them a prime rib dinner at the officers' club," Quinn said. "Then he sat down for an hour and a half, and everyone got a personal talking-to and autographs. It was great."
The Spirit of America Tour, which provides headline entertainment to America's stateside military installations, arranged for Daniels and his band to perform for the Marines. Robert M. Rosenthal, the organization's founder and president, said his only expectation for the concert was what he expects from each of the shows he arranges.
"I hope they bring a moment of relaxation to the Marine, the soldier, the airman and their families," Robert M. Rosenthal, the organization's founder and president, said. "I just hope they bring a little morale boost to them and let them know there are people out there in America who respect them, and who want to do something for them."
The concert at New River surely lived up to expectations. "It was one of the most enthusiastic audiences we've ever had," Rosenthal said.
The Spirit of America Tour is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
It was the organization's 82nd concert since its creation in 2002, and like each of the previous shows, it was free to anyone with a Defense Department identification card.
Country music singer Danielle Peck is the next artist who will work with The Spirit of America Tour to show her appreciation to servicemembers. She will perform May 31 at Naval Submarine Base New London, Conn.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership; and, law enforcement personnel who have written books.
American Forces Press Service
May 21, 2007 – The devil may have gone down to Georgia, but Charlie Daniels stopped off at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., to show his appreciation to the servicemembers stationed there May 16. The country music star and his band entertained about 5,500 Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C., and New River, as well as their guests. Saying the musician got a warm welcome may be a bit understated, Paul Quinn, director of Marine Corps Community Services at New River, said.
"We've had a lot of shows here, and this one was a high-spirited one," he said. "It started off with the 'Tennessee Waltz,' and ended up with 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia.'"
In the midst of the entertainment, Daniels expressed his appreciation for what the servicemembers have done for the country. Before that, however, he had focused his attention on 70 Marines recovering from injuries suffered in Iraq, and their guests.
The wounded warriors, part of a unit stationed at Camp Lejeune, were special guests at the concert.
"Before the show itself started, we gave them a prime rib dinner at the officers' club," Quinn said. "Then he sat down for an hour and a half, and everyone got a personal talking-to and autographs. It was great."
The Spirit of America Tour, which provides headline entertainment to America's stateside military installations, arranged for Daniels and his band to perform for the Marines. Robert M. Rosenthal, the organization's founder and president, said his only expectation for the concert was what he expects from each of the shows he arranges.
"I hope they bring a moment of relaxation to the Marine, the soldier, the airman and their families," Robert M. Rosenthal, the organization's founder and president, said. "I just hope they bring a little morale boost to them and let them know there are people out there in America who respect them, and who want to do something for them."
The concert at New River surely lived up to expectations. "It was one of the most enthusiastic audiences we've ever had," Rosenthal said.
The Spirit of America Tour is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
It was the organization's 82nd concert since its creation in 2002, and like each of the previous shows, it was free to anyone with a Defense Department identification card.
Country music singer Danielle Peck is the next artist who will work with The Spirit of America Tour to show her appreciation to servicemembers. She will perform May 31 at Naval Submarine Base New London, Conn.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership; and, law enforcement personnel who have written books.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
