The second annual Operation Yellow Ribbon was a huge success!
The event featured General Tommy Franks as keynote speaker and performances by Charlie Daniels, Wynonna Judd, The Grascals and Montgomery Gentry. Charlie Daniels was honored by being appointed a colonel. The whole event was hosted by GAC’s Storme Warren.
Prior to the show, veteran students and other VIP guests had the opportunity to meet with Gen. Franks and Daniels as well as the performers: Montgomery Gentry, The Grascals and Wynonna Judd.
The Grascals’ banjo player Kristin Benson and guitarist Terry Eldredge were excited for the opportunity to show support for troops and veterans.
“This is a worthwhile event we’re proud to be a part of,” says Benson.
The Grascals played two songs including their cover of The Monkees’ “Last Train to Clarksville.”
“It’s great, anyway you can honor them,” Eldredge said, a bit choked up. “They dodge bullets for us. Anybody who does that deserves to be honored.”
Daniels has always been a notoriously patriotic supporter of the military and its veterans, and has performed at both Operation Yellow Ribbon events at Lipscomb.
This year he played a new song asking everyone to pray for the troops. He also played the Charlie Daniels Band classic, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” with accompaniment from The Grascals.
“There is a Santa Claus and his name isn’t St. Nick, its St. Charlie Daniels,” said Eldredge.
To add to the night’s excitement, David Hughes announced Lipscomb’s new partnership with Sentinels of Freedom, a program which awards scholarships to qualifying veterans who were severely injured in the line of duty.
The first student to be awarded this scholarship at Lipscomb, Sgt. Sam Schoenheit, will be attending in the fall.
Gen. Franks entertained the audience with an unexpected lighthearted sense of humor. However, his message was serious. He repeatedly stressed that “freedom ain’t free.”
He says it does not matter which war or situation you are referring to, someone paid a cost and that is not something we should forget as “free” Americans.
The night concluded with the Jazz Ensemble performing the Irving Berlin Medley.
Jazz Ensemble member Seth Jones, a senior and music education major from Rhodesdale, Md., really enjoyed being involved last night.
“It was an honor to be able to help support the Yellow Ribbon Program,” Jones said. “Not to mention being around legends like Charlie Daniels and General Franks is not something you get to experience every day.”
Many veterans, their families and other supporters were in attendance last night, making the evening special to say the least.
Photo Credit: Whitney Jarreld