WOUNDED WARRIOR CONCERT - Country music artist Wynonna Judd performs with the U.S. Army Band at the Wagner Sports Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. The concert for staff and patients was held in conjunction with a Morale, Welfare and Recreation picnic that featured a local blues band, barbecue and steaks.Defense Dept. photo by Fred W. Baker III

Labels: photos, Tonal Troop Support, Walter Reed, Wounded Heroes

LT. DAN BAND - Oscar-nominated actor and director Gary Sinise, right, and his "Lt. Dan Band" perform a concert in the Pentagon Courtyard at the 4th Annual America Supports you concert as part of Military Appreciation Month at the Pentagon, Friday, May 16, 2008. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jerry Morrison

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Labels: America Supports You, Gary Sinise, Lt. Dan Band, Military Appreciation Month, Supporting the troops, Tonal Troop Support

Canadian musician Shawn Hlookoff has one heck of a song - "Soldier" - that you simply must hear.

A teaser - here are some of they lyrics.

Some people say I'm a fighter,
Some people hate what I do.
But I stand for my country,
I stand for you.

[...]

So if I die, don't judge me,
'Cause I will not judge you.
And if I die, please accept it,
'Cause I would die for you...

And that's just a little bit. Really, you're missing something special if you don't listen to this one. The video is pretty powerful, too.

Soldiers' Angel Shelle tells me that the song and video for "Soldier" has been nominated for the top video of the year for Universal Muisc!

Please take the time to listen, and to vote, and be sure to leave a comment.

Winning the contest means huge exposure for the song and for Shawn, and it's well deserved.

Want a copy of the song? You can download it at the Soldiers' Angels website. Shelle tells me that there have been more than 125,000 downloads so far, and I'm one of them.

HOOAH, and Well Done, Shawn.

Labels: Soldiers' Angels, Supporting the troops, Tonal Troop Support

The CD opens with "Passing of a Legend." It's a song that describes a simple hero, and a profound loss. I found myself remembering fallen heroes like PFC Gunnar Becker, Major Steve Reich, and so many others who have paid the ultimate price for all the gifts that freedom gives us. Although each name may not be familiar, each name in the casualty list is a son, a daughter, a spouse, a parent, a friend - a Hero. And each is felt..




The second song, "When I Get Home," literally had me trying to keep tears out of the cookie batter. Right away, I was taken back to instant message sessions with my first Soldiers' Angels adoptee - talking about what he was going to do when he left the sights and sounds of duty in Baghdad for the welcome return to his family, talking about what it was like to patrol the city streets. It was about my other adoptees, too - M---, doing convoy security, and who sent me a package, and C---, who voluntarily extended for another year to work with his original unit's replacements, and rejoiced over the historic Red Sox win. This is the song that blogger Mark Miner asked for the lyrics for; those lyrics are found inside the CD jacket. This is my favorite tune on the album, the one that, above all the others, I find playing in my head in idle moments. There's raw emotion in Knizley's voice, with well-woven guitar as a backdrop to deeply moving lyrics.




This one is about what civvies like me can't possibly really understand - being there. Again, I was reminded of letters from the Sandbox - words that told of what it was like to be thousands of miles from home in a warzone. It's another one of my favorites. Once again, profoundly moving lyrics ride a wave of pure sound - Cliff's acoustic guitar.

I found that though I played the CD with posting about it in mind, I was quickly lost in the songs - in the stories, in the emotions, and the music. It quickly became less about the post, and more about tones and words and feelings - and about the Heroes that formed the inspiration for it all. Every time I listen to it - and I've listened alot, I find something new to like - some piece of the lyrics that sticks with me.

You can purchase the CD's at Cliff's website - cliffknizley.com. Click to enter the site, and then click the "Boots in Baghdad" icon to sample music, read the lyrics, or purchase the CD. You can also click "albums" to view his other CD's.

Proceeds will be used to benefit some great charities - like Homes for Our Troops, the Freedom Alliance, and Lest They Be Forgotten, and you'll be getting top-notch music, too.

And Cliff has a special offer for Soldiers' Angels members - great for purchasing copies to send to your adoptees - email me for the details.

This is Mark Miner, Gregg Garvey (Lest They Be Forgotten) and Cliff at a recent release party

Labels: Cliff Knizley, Gunnar Becker, Tonal Troop Support