Here’s your chance to hear real stories told by people who’ve been in your shoes, as well as in places you’ve never gone. Join us for this series experience where you won’t learn more ABOUT these people but FROM them. Hear from world record holder, marathon and Ironman triathlete Scott Rigsby. And Hollywood actress, writer & Lutheran, Susan Isaacs. And Army Ranger Keni Thomas, who fought in the battle portrayed in the movie Black Hawk Down. You’ll hear their stories of trial and triumph and learn about what’s really behind The Rest of The Story

More than a gifted musician, Keni possesses an exceptional personal story that is uniquely inspiring. He is a decorated combat veteran of the elite 75th Ranger Rgt special operations unit. As a military analyst, he has made numerous appearances on every major television network including a featured story on Good Morning America and specials on The History and Discovery channels. He is regularly booked as a keynote speaker for corporations and organizations around the nation sharing his motivating story of teamwork and leadership. Keni is an Army Ranger who fought in the battle portrayed in the movie Black Hawk Down.

Allen Arena Tuesday, March 5th, 2013 7:00 pm

Everyone has been touched by the sacrifices of our veterans and their families. On March 5th at 7pm, Nashville will have an opportunity to honor and say thank you to our veterans at the 4th Annual Charlie Daniels Scholarship for Heroes Concert at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena.

It will be a fantastic show with Charlie Daniels, Chris Young and special guests.

Keni preforms for troops in afghanistan this holiday as part of the
Nashville 2 U songwriter’s tour.

Gainesvillian named Rebecca Brown. Who is Rebecca Brown you ask? She was the magical director of the Sonlight youth choir at Trinity United Methodist church in Gainesville FL during the 80s and 90s

“Rebecca’s mission was to use music to get kids into the church that otherwise wouldn’t have been there. But to do that, she had to go outside the box. Kids like me weren’t gonna show up to sing choir songs. And there wasn’t a huge praise and worship christian-music market at the time. Drums and guitar amps in a church was unheard of.

So Rebecca let the kids pick songs off the radio and from their album collections that had meaning and substance. The first song i ever did there was Heaven Help us All by Stevie Wonder. I learned through my years with Sonlight that music must be entertaining but can still have meaning. That seed was planted. Its why I write the way i write and make albums the way I do. I try and be entertaining and fun with songs like Mexico. But then I’m gonna play NOT ME and hit you with a message. At the end of the day if someone hands you a microphone you better have something bigger to say than ‘Im countrier than you. Party party party..shake it shake it ..beer!”

Its been almost 8 years since he’s last performed in Gainesville. For those of you who’ve been camping out, the wait is over. Keni returns to Trinity this Saturday 26 Jan with his band Cornbread and special guest The Dirt Road Drifters! Show is open to all folks young and old, shoes or no shoes and is sure to be a packed house. Show time is 7pm Trinity United Methodist Church in Gainesville.

Keni will also be speaking for the mens retreat on Saturday morning at Trinity talking about his inspiring story as a US Special Operations Army Ranger who fought in the Battle of Mogadishu recounted in the movie “Blackhawk Down” . For more information please contact Trinity United Methodist Church www.trinityGNV.org

Country music’s brightest song writers left the comforts of Nashville, Tenn., to travel around the world for this enjoyable delivery.

On its second day, the Nashville to You Tour came to forward operating base Gardez and Camp Clark, playing country music’s top hits for Soldiers, Nov. 15, 2012. The tour featured five of Nashville’s top songwriters; Hillary Lindsay, Keni Thomas, Carlton Ray Scott, Thomas Verges and Billy Montana.

Some of the hits featured for the Soldiers included; “Wasted,” by Carrie Underwood; “American Honey,” by Lady Antebellum; “Hard to Love,” by Lee Brice; “Beer Money,” by Kip Moore; and “Circle on the Cross,” by Keni Thomas.

The group came together under the idea they could bring a taste of Nashville to deployed soldiers.

“I began planning this tour in May,” said Keni Thomas, a country music singer and songwriter and former U.S. Army Ranger who served with the prestigious 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment during the 1990′s. “It really is a logistical challenge to move five songwriters around the country; it was impressive the way it finally came together.”

Although this is Thomas’ ninth time touring for the troops, it was his first time planning and heading up the operation.

“When I began approaching the songwriters for this tour, it was refreshing to pull from songwriters that were so motivated and enthusiastic to come.” Thomas said. “I thought this would be great to bring the people who wrote the songs Soldiers know and love, to them.”

Furthermore, explaining the importance of these events Thomas added, “Being here for the Soldiers is something I love doing. We want them to know they’re not forgotten and that we love and support each and every one of them. Their morale is very important.”

In addition to seasoned performers, there were also newcomers on the tour who felt strong emotions after interacting with the Soldiers here in Afghanistan.

“This has truly been a life-changing experience for me,” said Hillary Lindsay, a Grammy award winning song writer. “I’ve always appreciated what the troops do for us. But, being here and seeing first hand … it is remarkable what they do.”

“Just getting to be here with the Soldiers has been amazing,” Lindsey added.

Carlton Ray Scott, who’s father and grandfather served in the military, echoed a similar sentiment, “I am extremely grateful of these brave men and women. I absolutely love coming here and playing for the troops.”

The Soldiers were equally thankful.

“These guys were awesome,” said Sgt. Jeremy Macdonald, a Hermitage, Tenn., native, assigned to Forward Support Company, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team “Rakkasans,” 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). “For them to come all the way here just for us is truly amazing and it really lifted our morale.”

Though, boosting morale wasn’t the only part Soldiers were appreciative of.

“I would like to thank the performers for coming out of their way to make Camp Clark feel more like home”, said Spc. Eric Hulbig, a native of Merced, Calif., a cavalry scout assigned to Troop B, 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd BCT “Rakkasans,” 101st ABN DIV (AASLT). “I’m from California, but I’m still an avid country music fan.”

At the conclusion of each show, the songwriters and performers signed autographs and interacted with the Soldiers before departing for their next stop.

The impressions they left behind will carry on for months to come.

Staff Sgt. Serge McAvoy (left) and Sgt. Jeremy Macdonald, both assigned with 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team “Rakkasans,” 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), laugh during a song played by members of the Nashville to You Tour, at forward operating base Gardez, Nov. 15, 2012. The tour featured Nashville’s top songwriters Hillary Lindsey, Billy Montana, Troy Verges, Ray Scott and former Army Ranger now country artist, Keni Thomas as they traveled throughout Afghanistan performing for deployed soldiers. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Abram Pinnington, TF 3/101 PAO).

Read More: http://www.dvidshub.net/image/785948/nashville-comes-soldiers#.UKpwc7Rt3zI#ixzz2CgxIebKk

Memorial Day will be stretched into a weekend of activities in Granbury, southwest of Fort Worth.

The three-day event will include a Civil War encampment, a Vietnam War re-enactment, flyovers, history presentations and World War II-era vehicles. Many of those activities will occur at the Field of Flags, 710 Fall Creek Highway. However, some events and live music tonight and Sunday night will occur in downtown Granbury around the courthouse square.

On Monday, a parade downtown will begin at 10 a.m. with an appearance by Glenn McDuffie of Houston, who says he was the sailor who kissed the nurse in the famous photo taken in Times Square when the war with Japan concluded in 1945. (No one is really sure who the sailor was, though. The photographer never got a name, and the face is largely obscured.)

At 1 p.m. Monday at the Field of Flags, country singer Keni Thomas will perform. Thomas is a decorated former Army Ranger who saw combat in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993.

The weekend events will benefit the U.S. Veterans Museum in Granbury. More information can be found at www.usvmm.com .

Other events this weekend include:

Sunday

3:30 p .m.: Reverchon Park, 3505 Maple Ave., Dallas. A 20-hour event, Carry the Load 2012, will honor military members and raise money to support their families through nonprofit organizations. The event challenges participants to “carry” someone — a veteran or active-duty member — by walking or running as much as they can over 20 hours. The closing celebration will be 1-3 p.m. Monday. carrytheload.org/dallas
Monday

10 a.m.: Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park, 5725 Colleyville Blvd., Colleyville. The Memorial Day address will be given by retired Navy Capt. Mike Armour at Northeast Tarrant County’s major holiday service. Music will be provided by the Goodtimes Chorus and Jon Stricklin. The Colleyville police and fire honor guard and an honor guard from the VFW will present the colors.

10 a.m.: Grand Prairie Veterans Memorial, 925 W. Conover Drive. A vintage aircraft flyover, a bagpiper, a rifle salute and music by the Levee Singers mark this annual event. The program will have the reading of names and ringing of bells for Grand Prairie residents lost in war.

10 a.m.: Central Branch Y, 2200 S. Davis Drive, Arlington. The Arlington YMCA will also hold a special tribute, featuring retired Navy Col. Larry Odneal and Air Force Lt. Col. Brett Ashworth and members of his staff. Active-duty members and veterans, along with their families, can swim and exercise for free Monday at all 39 area branches of the YMCA.

11 a.m.: Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas. Navy Capt. Robert Bennett, commander of Naval Air Station Fort Worth, will deliver the keynote address at North Texas’ only national cemetery. An aircraft flyover, a cannon salute, a wreath placement and music will be part of the ceremony. Guests are urged to arrive early, park at The Potter’s House and take shuttle buses to the cemetery. Shuttle buses will begin at 8 a.m.

Noon: Laurel Land Memorial Park, 7100 Crowley Road, Fort Worth. The keynote speaker will be Lt. Col. Lane Beene of the Air Force Reserve’s 457th Fighter Squadron, based at Naval Air Station Fort Worth. That squadron will also perform a flyover of F-16s. The flag will be raised by the Southwest High School JROTC with the Fort Worth Scottish Rite Pipes & Drums. Music will be provided by Stan Denman.

Noon: Skyvue Memorial Gardens, 7220 Rendon Bloodworth Road, Mansfield. Tarrant County Commissioner Roy C. Brooks will be the keynote speaker.

6 p.m.: I.O.O.F. Cemetery, 3101 Ottinger Road, just south of Texas 170, Westlake. A Civil War Union Veterans Gravesite Dedication and a Union and Confederate Civil War Cannon Salute will be among the events at the annual Decoration Day presented by the Westlake Historical Preservation Society. There will also be a patriotic bicycle-decorating contest, music, free hot dogs and more. All members of the military are invited to come in uniform. Retired Brig. Gen. James T. Spivey Jr. will speak.

6:30 p .m.: Mount Olivet Cemetery, 2301 N. Sylvania Ave., Fort Worth. One of the oldest Memorial Day services in the Southwest, the event will take place near the two bronze statues depicting a doughboy from World War I and a more modern soldier. Mayor Betsy Price will deliver the keynote address. The ceremony will feature a dove release, a wreath placement, a rifle salute and a bugler sounding taps. A motorcade will form at the Watauga Street entrance and proceed to the Paddock Viaduct for a brief naval service.

6:30 p.m.: Bicentennial Park, 3200 Smith Barry Road, Pantego. Marine Col. Samuel “Ted” Studdard, commander of the 8th Marine Corps Recruiting District, will be the keynote speaker.