FORT BENNING, Ga. -- For Sgt. Richard Dixon and his wife, Rhonda, kicking back at a free Eli Young Band outdoor concert was a perfect way to spend time together on a brisk spring night. The pair staked out a spot close to stage at Wetherby Field so they wouldn't miss any of the action.
The Dixons were among 4,000 fans who attended a free concert by Grammy-nominated Eli Young Band. The Grammy-nominated musicians played a free show March 28 for Soldiers, family members and the Fort Benning community. The "Six String Salute to the Champs" was Fort Benning's prize for winning the Army & Air Force Exchange Service's and Pizza Hut's Wing-A-Palooza contest last summer and included opening acts Kelsea Ballerini and Old Dominion.
"We are grateful for events like this," Sgt. Dixon said. "We're looking forward to a good time--and it's all for free."
Despite cool temperatures, fans flocked to the open-air venue, stretching out on blankets and setting up lawn chairs as they settled in for a night of live music with their families and friends. Hours before the gates opened, fans of all ages lined up, eager to enter and secure their seats.
"It's a time to celebrate," said Exchange Director/Chief Executive Officer Tom Shull, who attended the event. "Soldiers and their families have made so many sacrifices, especially during combat in the last 13 years. Events like this let them know we care and are here to take care of them and their families."
Shull thanked Pizza Hut and MWR, calling the free concert a "tremendous event for the community."
The morning of the concert, the band signed autographs and handed out free T-shirts at the Fort Benning Exchange during a meet-and-greet session. Spc. Dereck Glenn, wife Chelsea, and their toddler, Izabella, were among the first line, arriving at 8:30 a.m.--before the store even opened. By the time the band arrived, more than 100 fans had lined up to greet them.
"We are huge fans," Chelsea Glenn said. "I can't wait to meet them and see them in concert."
The Exchange, Pizza Hut and Fort Benning Morale, Welfare and Recreation teamed up to bring the free show to Fort Benning. Last summer, Fort Benning's Pizza Hut saw the greatest percentage increase in wing sales out of Army and Air Force locations in the U.S., earning their community a free concert. Soldiers and families placed more than 1,100 orders for wings to win the show for the Fort Benning community.
In October, the Eli Young Band performed for the overseas Wing-A-Palooza winner. Camp Schwab, Okinawa, won that contest, and the free concert was held at Camp Hansen with about 7,000 military members and families in attendance.
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