REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- When the band Lonestar comes to Huntsville to support veterans, the band plans to leave the audience "Amazed."
The American Freedom Foundation announces its first American Freedom Festival in Huntsville set for May 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the Von Braun Center Concert Hall featuring country band, Lonestar, better known for its smash hit "Amazed." This benefit concert for veterans and men and women of America's armed forces will benefit Still Serving Veterans and other Huntsville-area veteran organizations.
"The mission of American Freedom Foundation is to help active-duty military members with whatever their needs are, whether it is a disability, a health care issue or helping their spouses and children," said retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Jack Tilley, American Freedom Foundation co-founder. "It is important for people to come out and support the concert because this is our way to make money to give to veterans in need. We give about 92 cents on every dollar to the veterans."
As sergeant major of the Army, Tilley sat on a wide variety of councils and boards that made decisions affecting Soldiers and their families. Since retiring in 2004, Tilley has continued his advocacy for the men and women in uniform. In addition to co-chairing the American Freedom Festival organizing committee, he also gives speeches around the country to help raise the public consciousness in support of the military.
Tilley began American Freedom Foundation, Inc., to honor the men and women of America's armed forces, raise awareness for their service and sacrifice, and raise money for organizations that serve and support veterans, active-duty military and their families. Special emphasis is directed to the welfare of those wounded in action, those disabled and the family members of those killed in action.
"We have been able to give more than $1 million in the past eight years to veterans' organizations that help our service members," Tilley said. "This year, we are going to give away $1.5 million in military scholarships and we hope to be able to give away another $500,000 to organizations that help our military families.
"We are currently teamed up with Kaplan University to give away $1.5 million in scholarships for military spouses and dependants," he continued. "So all someone has to do is go online to the American Freedom Foundation and click on the flag that says Kaplan University and fill out the application.
"The deadline for scholarship applications is June 1," Tilley added. "We are hoping some people down in the Huntsville area will apply and qualify for the scholarships. Nothing would make me prouder."
Founded in 2005, Still Serving Veterans has helped more than 5,000 veterans and their families connect with the services they need to deal with life-changing injuries while reintegrating into civilian lives and careers.
Based in Huntsville, Still Serving Veterans has become a nationally-recognized center of excellence as a grass roots-level reintegration orchestrator for veterans including wounded warriors and their families. The organization bridges the gaps, helping veterans assess their vocational and counseling needs and then connecting those veterans with existing federal, state and local support services.
"This year we are doing three shows; Huntsville, San Diego and Washington, D.C., along with three job fairs in Washington, D.C., San Diego and Chicago," Tilley said. "We are hoping people will come out and support us, but more importantly support those who continue to serve their country."
The American Freedom Foundation has made grants of approximately $1 million to more than 30 military organizations. The American Freedom Festivals are a series of concert events that take place across the country featuring music performers, actors, athletes, dignitaries and other supporters, joining together to help support and fulfill the mission of the American Freedom Foundation.
Lonestar was founded in 1992. The band has released eight studio albums and one greatest hits album. They have sold more than 10 million albums worldwide and nine of their 28 singles have reached number one on the Billboard country singles charts.
"2012 marks the 20th anniversary for Lonestar and that means we have been around for a long time," said Dean Sams, Lonestar co-founder and keyboardist. "Just the fact that it has been quite a while since we have played in Alabama will make this special for us. And the fact that we are going to have a lot of military folks there and to be able to meet some of them backstage is just going to make this an awesome event.
"Our big thing is that we pride ourselves on our live shows," he continued. "We love writing and recording songs, but truly what drives us is doing the live shows and seeing the fans' reactions to our songs and hearing them sing them back to us. That is what we look forward to the most.
"These days, with the economy and a lot of our men and women still overseas, there are a lot of heavy hearts out there," Sams added. "We hope this show will give people at least 90 minutes to just forget about their troubles for a little while and have a good time with a band that is totally digging what they do."
In addition to garnering music accolades, Lonestar has been oft-lauded for their continuous outreach in the arena of humanitarian goodwill winning The Academy of Country Music's coveted Home Depot Humanitarian Award in 2003 for their work in the tornado-ravaged Jackson, Tenn. America's military forces have been a major focus for concert and fundraising efforts by the band, as has St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.
"Ever since our song, "I'm Already There," made it up the charts, we've been heavily involved with anything dealing with the military," Sams said. "The song was obviously written out of a personal experience with us being away from our families a lot. But once we had to start sending our men and women overseas to fight for us, we received so many letters from families saying what the song meant to them and how it made them feel closer to their loved ones who were so far away from them. It really became an anthem for the military and forever tying us to them. It has been such an amazing experience to make a difference in their lives."
Tickets for the American Freedom Festival are $74.50 for the Gold Circle, which will include preferred seating and a Lonestar CD and poster; $39.50 for orchestra level; and $24.50 for balcony seats. Special military rates are from $21.75-$32.75.
Tickets are available through the Von Braun Center box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com or at www.americanfreedomfoundation.org or by calling (800) 745-3000. Accessible seating is available for patrons with disabilities.
Tickets for active duty military members are available through the Redstone Arsenal Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation office at 3711 Patton Road, or by calling 876-4531.
Social Sharing