In celebration of the men and women who serve the United States, Sgt. Christiana Ball, 787th Military Police Battalion drill sergeant, is scheduled to perform at the White House today as a part of the "In Performance at the White House" series and the Joining Forces initiative.
Ball is also slated to take part in a special daytime interactive student workshop: "The Stars and Stripes Forever: A History of Music and the Military," which is being held for high school students from military communities in the greater Washington, Maryland and Virginia areas.
"I arrived on the 4th with my husband Stacy, and on the 5th, we conducted rehearsals with the house band. This morning I will be taking part in an educational program in the State Dining Room of the White House for 120 high school students, featuring children of active military and students involved in Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps programs throughout the D.C. area," Ball said. "This evening is when the Salute to the Troops will be filmed."
The program, on the South Lawn, will have a live audience that will include hundreds of service members, veterans and their Families.
"Regardless of what an individual's political views are, I think any American would feel deeply honored for such a unique chance to stand on the same grounds where so many great men have led our country from," Ball said.
The event will feature performances by Mary J. Blige, Common, John Fogerty, Willie Nelson, Romeo Santos, as well as active-duty military members Ball, Marine Corps Capt. Matt Smith and Capt. John Ed Auer, with Don Was as music director.
The rock band Daughtry will also perform via satellite from a USO concert at Yokota Air Base in Japan.
"This is a pinnacle type event for any singer, much less a singer who's only been pushing a music career for less than a year. Even if I get to sing professionally at some point, I probably will never get another opportunity to reach out musically to people while standing on the same grounds where so much of our country's history has been made," Ball said.
Ball said being chosen to participate in the event is like a dream for her.
"It feels a little bit surreal and will probably stay that way after it's all over. There is nothing like giving back to veterans in any capacity, but this is truly a special experience," Ball said.
"I hope that all of my Fort Leonard Wood Family realize how instrumental they have been in propelling me toward these opportunities. I was nowhere near attempting a singing career before I did Operation Rising Star last year, but because of the landslide of support from my community and Family that helped me win the Army Rising Star and the endless continued support thereafter, I have done more in one year than many singers get to do throughout the span of a career," she added.
"The Stars and Stripes Forever: A History of Music and the Military," will stream live on WhiteHouse.gov/live.
"A Salute to the Troops: In Performance at the White House" will be streamed live at WhiteHouse.gov/live starting at 6:25 p.m. central standard time. It will be broadcast at 8 p.m., Friday on PBS stations nationwide, as part of the PBS Arts Fall Festival.
The program will also be broadcast on Veterans Day via the American Forces Network.
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