FORT SILL, Okla. May 1, 2014 -- The Air Force Reserve put on a concert April 25, that filled Fort Sill's Polo Field with more than 8,000 service members and Big & Rich fans from Lawton and the surrounding area.
"Artists that do 'Tour for the Troops' shows just want to give back to the troops and their families," said Dean Harris, Air Force Reserve show coordinator. "It's exciting to be with folks who want to spend their time doing shows like this and also interacting with the men and women who serve."
Performers
This year's opening acts had ties to the Fires Center of Excellence.
Ciera MacKenzie, daughter of Fort Sill's 1st Lt. Tonya and Danny Crain Jr., of Cache, sang the national anthem and "Volunteer Soldier" a tribute song to those who serve.
Ken Morrow and the Hired Guns out of Medicine Park, Okla., played next with band member and guitarist, Staff Sgt. John Jarrett, B Battery, 3rd Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery.
DJ Sinister followed with his digital "Country Fried Mix" before headliner Big & Rich with Cowboy Troy took the stage.
Harris said Big & Rich have been a part of "Tour for the Troops" for three years. Here the audience included the Army's newest Soldiers in Basic Combat Training Fort Sill.
"It actually started out as 'Operation Seasons Greetings' several years ago. We would take talent overseas to the troops who were deployed and then we decided to do something stateside for the troops here," said Senior Master Sgt. Darin Thomas, Air Force Reserve Command.
Maj. Gen. Mark McDonald, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general, welcomed the main performers with a reception before the show and even tried to give them the "sound of freedom" with some cannon fire. Unfortunately, Fort Sill's much-needed rain put a damper on any explosions from the Sherman House cannons.
Big Kenny and John Rich still appreciated the gesture and mentioned it in their dialogue during the concert.
They played their hits, "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)," "Wild West Show" and "8th of November" a song about a Soldier in 173rd Airborne Brigade during Operation Hump in South Vietnam. The performers brought a two-time Purple Heart recipient and Soldiers on stage to keep the focus on those who serve.
"It's like the general said on the stage earlier: The Army has worked with the Air Force Reserve for years and years in Iraq and Afghanistan, but right now we're working together in a morale building event so that allows us to take that relationship off the battlefield as co-combatants and allows us to enjoy one another's company off duty," said Master Sgt. Shawn Jones, Air Force Reserve Command.
For more concert photos from the concert visit www.flickr.com/cannoneer.
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