Subrosa Union
May 16, 2010
To all you women and men serving this great nation… our humble thanks. We had an opportunity of lifetime and are touched by the sacrifices you make every day for us. Know that there are quite a few of us out here that are gratefully appreciative of you. Entertaining and performing for you all was nothing short of blessing for us. To bring a little rock n roll, happiness and lil’ home for a few hours was special indeed. In fact we wrote a song on our recently released album “One Night Stand” titled “Hurry Up and Wait” as this became our touring anthem. Watching close and afar from the transit points those waiting to go home and those waiting to get back to their units… standing by to stand by. From the icy cold temperatures of Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan to riding at high speeds on the “Bang Bus” in Kabul, flying low on a SH60 to a guided missile cruiser in the Persian Gulf, to the hot climate of Camp Al Dhafra. We are blessed to have been able to entertain you all… Each of you is on stage performing a mission more critical than most will ever understand; And we now know it’s not just the job… it’s about each other… May god bless all of you and to all those in the MWR jobs along with AFE… there aren’t enough thanks to give, but there is a lotta of sincere gratitude and love! Subrosa Union
John Lewandowski
April 24, 2010
I'm glad that I was in Bahrain to meet the Ultimate Fighting guys.
The Q&A period that they allowed gave the servicemembers an
opportunity to ask real questions and to get real responses. Cool
dudes!
James Hawkins
February 1, 2010
Hip Kitty was a treat for the service members of Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. They covered wide areas of pop & rock classics entertaining the large crowd who came out for the great show! After the show, they hung out with everyone and even made a few new friends along the way. One in particular named Brooks Herring, US Navy. During their live performance, Hip Kitty lead guitarist Mike Goncalves passed the guitar to Herring who played several songs with the band in front of his fellow shipmates and live audience. This tour was a huge crowd-pleaser amongst camp personnel. Thank you AFE.
Brad
December 30, 2009
I just wanted to give a huge thank you for sending Blue Island Tribe to Kuwait. I have seen multiple shows on multiple bases here in Kuwait and Blue Island Tribe was by far the best show that I have seen. The energy that James Frey and the rest of the band have on stage is truly amazing. John Schminke is extremely talented and his solo's were on fire. Garret Theilking adds yet another unique twist to the band and dual between John and him was great. Brandon Clark bass truly stands out on its own. Mike was ripping the drum set apart and Kelly Powers smooth and steady guitar truly rounds out the group.
All the members of the group were truly personable and took the time to stay and meet every last soldier, sailor, marine, or air man that stayed after the show for an autograph.
Thank you again for making my deployment a little easier to handle especially over the holiday season.
Jen Halverson
(Hip Kitty – Lead vocals)
November 26, 2009
I would like to express my deepest thanks for a wonderful tour of Southwest Asia and Africa. Hip Kitty had an awesome time. Our tour began at NSA Bahrain. A special thanks to Joe Hernandez and his team for going above and beyond to accommodate us. We had a blast getting to visit the historical Grand Mosque…our highlights were of course the performances. Being able to share our music with our men and women of the Armed Forces is an honor!! We also had the privilege of being the FIRST musical group to play the Shake Isa base! Good times were had at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, Africa. We really enjoyed the base tour and the commanders taking the time to welcome us. Next, we were off to Qatar to perform for Al Udeid and CAS. A big thank you to the Striker team for the tour and ride!!! To Arifjan and AAS in Kuwait……Thanks for the silly string!!! Hehe. “Holler!!!”
Amanda Mocanu, SSgt, USAF
November 22, 2009
I am deployed to Southwest Asia and just saw Evelynn Rose perform at my
base. THANK YOU so much for sending them to us! They are amazing
performers as well as ‘salt-of-the-Earth’ people. It was such an uplifting
few hours being able to feel like we were not where we actually are, like we
were back in the states. They gave an incredible show and were so glad to
be here and appreciative of what we do, and we were so truly thankful that
they came out to be here with us; we actually got to talk to one of the band
members in the smoking area and it was refreshing to converse with him and
feel like we were home again; that’s a big deal for us here. Thanks for
booking groups like Evelynn Rose! We’d love to see them again! What you
all do for us service members is truly appreciated! Thank-you!
Jim Jack, The Evelynn Rose
November 16, 2009
Thank you so much. This experience we are about to embark on will be the most amazing thing we do as individuals not to mention a band.
I want to thank you as well as anyone involved in this process not only for what we are about to do but also for what you do for the men and women who serve. Our goal is to bring a little piece of home for those who sacrifice for this great country of ours. And it is you that allow us the opportunity to thank our troops the best way we know how.
Hope to be in touch and possibly do this again in the near future.
Lt. Col. Paul Kopecki
November 16, 2009
Your Red, White, and Bluer tour was fantastic. Nothing but rave reviews...
The Scarlet Ending
September 30, 2009
I just wanted to express my appreciation for the show The Scarlet Ending put on at Al Dhafra AB in the UAE. This was by far the highlight of my deployment and everyone in my squadron agreed. I was lucky enough to get to spend a few hours with TSE throughout the day before the show and they were incredible. The group flew for almost a full day straight through from New York to Al Dhafra and had no real time to rest before touring the base. Despite the jet lag they were experiencing they spent the entire day meeting with all the squadrons around the base without a break leading up to the concert. They put on an awesome show that everyone enjoyed and then stuck around for a few hours after they wrapped up.
I was very impressed with their interest and concern for the military and their genuine desire to entertain the deployed men and women of the Armed Forces. As someone who deploys regularly this is by far the best show I have seen and I can’t imagine it will be topped. Speaking for everyone I have talked to after the show we would love to have TSE back at Al Dhafra any time they can make it out here again. My only complaint would be that the band wasn’t able to stay longer and play another night. Thank you Armed Forces Entertainment and thank you so much Aaron, Jon, Jess, Kaleena, Kayleigh, Michael, Elisa, and Taryn. This band is definitely going places and I feel lucky to have heard them play and to have met such wonderful people.
Thank you,
Geoff Cameron, CAPT, USAF
Chicago Hot Rox Dancers
September 29, 2009
I wanted to take the time to let you know how incredible our experience with Armed Forces Entertainment has been and how grateful we are for the awesome tour!!! We recently returned from a 20 day tour of Japan and Okinawa.
First, Jamie and Frank from AFE believed in our show/tour back in September of 2008. I promised them a show that was different. A combo of the beautiful pro cheerleaders/dancers with a twist. We added a high energy, fan interactive, DJ spinning, live guitar playing, singers, and dancing to every song you know and love and sing along to twist to our show. Our goal was to not only make everyone (troops & families) feel like they were back home just for a night but to make them feel like they were just as much a part of the show as the performers.
The energy of the crowds were beyond words. Yells of "God Bless America" and singing along to ever song in the show. The interaction was amazing.....honestly in all my years of performing (even those at NFL games in front of 40,000+)...my time in Japan & Okinawa were the most incredible 20 days of my performance career. We gave away close to 2,000 posters, t-shirts, Hot Rox dog tags, hats, and most importantly our hearts....:) We are still getting emails and messages from all the amazing people we met on our tour.
Since I was a little girl I have wanted to perform for the troops over seas.... I wanted to make a difference if even for a day in the lives of those that sacrifice so much for us each day.....never did I expect that in return all of them would make such a difference in my life. I am a better person for having met them all...thanks for all the memories!!!!
Ask me if we would tour again....WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW QUICK CAN WE GO!!!!!
Kim Brancamp
Director, Chicago Hot Rox Dancers
The Party Animals
Bahrain, September 2009
I finally had to write to you. I am the creator and producer of The Party Animals Live and I have been touring with you guys since 2007 and have been to England, Germany, Belgium, Norway, The Netherlands, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and most recently Bahrain. All of them have touch me in some way. But I have to say that I have never been more proud of my country and the people fighting for it then I was after leaving Bahrain. We are a kids group and we usually just do our shows for the families but on this particular tour we spent a day entertaining some of the adults and wow what a great time. It was so much fun to get to know some of these military men and women. It just really hit home to us as to why we do what we do. We met so many people that were just so happy that we were there. The fact that we came and was able to put a smile on these faces was just so priceless. We don't get to tour with you guys that often but whenever you want us we are there. You are doing such a great service for these folks and I am just so proud to be able to say that I am a part of it. Please keep up the great work AFE and please keep asking us to help in any way that you see fit. Rock on!
Elevation
SWA, July 2009
Just wanted to aket a quick moment to say how much we appreciate the
opportunity AFE afforded us in July. It was an amazing experience and
extremely rewarding. The interactions and time spent one on one with
service men and women was something we will always treasure.
We are trying to compile all of our pictures and video, get them
approved and posted. As soon as we do I will make sure to update you
with a link. We are looking forward to not only sharing our
experiences with our fans, but also spreading the word about AFE.
By the way, it was a pleasure working with the whole team... very nice
meeting Daniel Cook and all of the other AFE reps from across the
region. Again, thank you for everything.
Digger Dawg
June 16, 2009
It's been a little over a year since my band Digger Dawg toured overseas in Kuwait and Iraq with AFE. And it still amazes me that we receive emails several times per week from troops we met while on tour. Our experience while touring for our troops was an experience of a lifetime and we are humbled and honored to have been given the opportunity to tour with the AFE. We're very much looking forward to another tour some day soon.
Joe Scopa -Piano, vocals, band leader,
Ember
June 11, 2009
Playing for our troops was a blessing. We knew we were at the start of something big when the guys were sitting in the Frankfurt airport waiting to come home and people were coming up and asking for autographs saying how much they enjoyed the shows in Ramstein and Baumholder. When we finally made it home from our trip overseas we were overloaded by the amount of response! So far in three days we have received over 1,500 “new friend” requests in our myspace account and over 3000 song plays! All of the requests that came in simply said “I’m an American Hero.” We sent each “new friend” a link to download our new single “American Hero” and they have all written back telling us what that song means to them and how they are sending it not only to their fellow soldiers but also to their friends and families back home! For us that is what it’s all about. It’s truly humbling to be able to give back to those who give so much more than we ever could. We can’t wait to come back and do it all over again.
Jay Price, Manager for Ember
Ember
June 11, 2009
I've played hundreds of shows as lead guitarist for Ember, shared the stage with many talented bands and some of my idols. Playing for our troops has topped it all. I've been humbled, I've been amazed, and I am beside myself at the amazing response from our men and women giving their everything so that I can live my dream. Thank you troops, you are the American Hero's.!!
Deuce Wanier, Lead guitar for Ember
Don Barnhart
May 27, 2009
Just wanted to say how much we loved the Don Barnhart Comedy Tour. The comedians were outstanding and spent time signing autographs. It was great to get a break and reminder of home. Keep 'em coming!!!
Foss
Hip Kitty
April 22, 2009
Hip Kitty Rocked the New Year in Curacao.
What could be better than a New Year celebration with fireworks, a celebration with Hip Kitty and fireworks. December 31st 2008 was a night that the men and women of the 429th Expeditionary Operations Squadron will never forget. Being away from home during the holiday season is never easy but Hip Kitty brought home to the 429th. The day started off with a tour of the Forward Operating Location and on to the hotel venue that would be the site of the awesome concert.
As evening fell Hip Kitty took the stage and rocked with a passion that could not be tamed. It did not matter if you were a Hip Kitty fan from way back or the first time hearing their music everyone was instantly a life long fan. This was not your normal concert that you see when you attend a venue in the states, it was a up close and personal jam fest. There was even a quest player, one of the members assigned to the EOS was up on stage rocking with the band. During the show all you could see was a sea of Hip Kitty t-shirts and people up dancing and having fun.
The end of the show was not the end of the interactions with the EOS and the band. During the intermission and after the show the band was right there to party and have fun with the Airmen. Although the time spent with the band was not nearly long enough it is safe to say that a lifelong friendship was formed and I look forward to seeing everyone again in the very near future.
The commitment to excellence that is shown by the band was obvious from the very first time that you met them. The song that hip Kitty wrote in tribute to the men and women of the military is one that everyone should have on their ipod or mp3 player. In a day and age of people having the attitude of "what's in it for me" it is refreshing to meet people that do things because it is the right thing to do. It is clear to see that the band Hip Kitty is made up of truly good people that are the real thing.
It is safe to say that the New Years Eve Party 2008 is one that changed the lives of hundreds of people. The show was unbelievable and the band is the best.
Team Rootberry
April 16, 2009
Hi! I just came back from the show Team Rootberry in Yokosuka, Japan and let me say I am so glad that they came over here. They were highly entertaining and by far the best entertainment so far I have seen since being over here. They were able to successfully entertain the whole crowd, kids and adults, at the same time throughout the show. They were very friendly and welcomed us to shake their hands, did autographs, and allowed us to talk to them. I would definitely recommend for people to see them when they come to their towns. For those on our base that didn't attend I feel bad for them as they missed out on a great experience and a good time. They were outstanding!! Thanks!
Sincerely,
Emily Smith
Alvin Frazier with Shelby Brown
April 13, 2009
I toured the Pacific region in February 2008 and what an eye opening
experience it was. Beyond touring and performing in foreign lands, the
love we got fom the troops was awesome and we in return showed them love
through our thanks and our music.
Through our music we gained fans, through our conversations with the
troops we gained friends. I still keep in contact with some of them even
now. I had the pleasure of speaking with different servicemen & women of
various ranks and hear their stories and they all seemed to have a common
theme: Home...
Stephen Kellogg and Sixers
March 24, 2009
Joe,
Just wanted to let you know that the show on Fri was absolutely
fantastic. The band was the best I have seen to date! They are true
entertainers and we have had a tremendous amount of positive feedback
from customers who came and enjoyed the show.
Scott Stapp
March 17, 2009
As a recently returning Individual Augmentee who spent over half a year
in Camp Arifjan Kuwait last year, I can attest that the quality of
entertainment that was brought by the Armed Forces Entertainment was
stellar. Especially exceptional were the Scott Stapp band concert and
Everclear. I saw how the troops stationed overseas were joyous on the
fantastic performances and how morale was lifted. THANKS...
Ken Uyesugi
CDR, MSC, USN
Katie Rae Davis and Sugarland
March 7, 2009
THANK YOU AFE!!!
Our family attended the great concert AFE brought to Aviano. We truly enjoyed listening to an up and coming stars like Katie Rae, wow, what a voice.
And now for Sugarland...it's says a great deal about AFE when you're able to bring such a great talent. They are the same in videos and tv concerts as they are live. Everyone had a great time and really enjoyed themselves. Boy, did Vicenza miss out....
AFE thank you so much for all that you do to bring us good enterntainment around the world.
Vic
Hollywood Handshake Tour
January 16, 2009
Happy New Year!
I want to take a moment to thank all of you for making this Holiday Handshake Tour such a fantastic experience.
It's such an honor to get the opportunity to travel abroad and visit with the Troops, the civilians working with them, and their spouses and children.
I feel so lucky to have been a part of the tour, and want to pass on my gratitude, as well as my congratulations on a job well done.
George, things just couldn't have gone more smoothly- from the pre-planning while we were here in the states, to the great AFE and MWR contacts we had at each base, to the lodging, to our fantastic bus and driver- every detail was perfect. From my point of view, things couldn't have gone better, and that is all due to you and your passion, humor, work ethic, organizational skills- just the perfect tour manager.
I have so many memories that I'll treasure from the trip- Christmas day at the hospital, seeing the Wounded Warriors off at Ramstein, going into "The Box", snowy Camp Bondsteel, not to mention the Edelweiss Lodge.
We saw so many people, shook so many hands, and were able to see up close just how great our Troops are- I hope there will be many more tours like this in the future.
With great appreciation,
Bill Brochtrup
Hip Kitty
Dec.30, 2008 – Jan. 7, 2009
First of all, thank you to AFE for an awesome start to our new year! This was Hip Kitty’s first AFE tour. It was an amazing opportunity and learning experience. We began our tour with a New Years Eve performance in Curacao. We found the soldiers to be completely welcoming and passionate about their mission. We really appreciated the tour of the Curacao base with First Sergeant Cunningham. Although out time in Curacao was brief, we hope to keep in touch with our new friends.
Honduras was our next stop in travel. For two days, we got to experience life at Soto Cano. What we learned there was in addition to their mission, the military is extensively involved in outreach. Not only are soldiers putting their life on the line to restore peace in war times, but they are giving of their time to aid and comfort those in need in other countries as well. How proud we are to be from the United States of America! We also want to say a special thank you to those who work in the K-9 unit at Soto Cano. Hip Kitty loves animals and we are passionate about supporting their rights. It was a pleasure to see their work within the forces.
Our final days were spent in Puerto Rico at the San Juan Coast Guard Base and CGAS Borinquen. A highlight for us was being able to meet some of the children from the stationed families. After the show in San Juan, we even shared a game if Rockband with a few. Thank you for opening your homes to us. We had a wonderful time. Beautiful sunshine, great food, good laughs….Puerto Rico!!! We loved it!!!
In closing, thank you once again. It is an honor to share our music and be able to serve our country. We look forward to our next AFE tour and meeting more of our great military. Blessings are to all of you!
Jen Halverson, Hip Kitty
January 4, 2009
"Thank You"
Our family spent New Years at Edelweiss Resort this year and we are very thankful for the entertainment. The Hollywood Handshake Tour and the Niki Barr band were fantastic! Our son broke his ankle snowboarding and all of the guests from the handshake tour signed his cast, which made his day. He was heartbroken that he would not be able to snowboard or swim for the duration of our vacation, however the guests were so gracious and absolutely the most friendly I have ever experienced.
Thank you for bringing this tour! I have attached a picture of my son and the guests from the handshake tour after they signed his cast.
Kim Whaley
Wiesbaden, Germany
November 3, 2008
On behalf of our 4500 2BCT deployed Soldiers and all their
families here in Baumholder we are very grateful for all your efforts to
bring a touch of home with great entertainment.
Looking forward to Travelin Max, take care, Bill
October 16, 2008
"March On"
A tribute to our troops
As many of you know, Blue Island Tribe had the opportunity to go overseas and entertain the troops in the summer of 2008. At first it was seen by the band as a great way to see the world but as the tour continued, the trip became much, much more. When we started the tour I had no idea how the troops would react to our particular blend of music. Please excuse my ignorance but I really thought they wouldn't respond well to a bunch of peace loving liberals like we are. Much to my surprise, we were greeted with open arms and instant acceptance. It really touched me deeply that we were given accolades and even awards from the people we were entertaining. Speaking of the people, we met so many awesome people and heard so many stories about life in the military that it affected each one us in many ways.
So as the tour continued in Japan, Korea, and Okinawa we began to realize that this wasn't just an opportunity to take a really cool trip but it meant a lot to the troops. You see, some of the troops had not had any kind of entertainment for months, some of the troops would be shipped off to war torn areas in a few days, and others had been away from their families for months and even years. The troops we met were just hard working folks like you and me just trying to make a living and support families. Our show was just a chance for them to feel like they were back at home for at least a couple of hours.
Before I go on I would like to explain to you that "March On" is not advocating war by any means. This song was written as homage to all the excellent people we met and their will to simply "march on". I can see with new eyes that our military is an absolute necessity, not as a warring campaign but as a peace-keeping entity. With that in mind, we wanted to create a song that would reflect the inspiration of what the tour and the people we met meant to us. So, to all the troops past and present that put their life on the line to protect our freedoms, this one is for you. Thank you.
Frey, Blue Island Tribe
"MARCH ON"
AS WE MARCH ON DOWN THE ROAD
YOU CAN FEEL IT IN OUR SOULS
AS WE FORGE ON ALL THE WAY
THIS IS THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY
MARCH ON MARCH ON - THIS IS OUR MOVEMENT
MARCH ON MARCH ON - ITS TIME TO REPRESENT
MARCH ON MARCH ON - CAN YOU FEEL IT IN YOUR SOUL
MARCH ON MARCH ON - AS THE MUSIC TAKES CONTROL
THERE IS NO OTHER WAY
BUT TO MARCH ON THROUGH THE DAY
TRIBAL WARRIORS ALL THROUGHOUT THE LAND
WE MUST TAKE OUR STAND
MARCH ON MARCH ON - THIS IS OUR MOVEMENT
MARCH ON MARCH ON - ITS TIME TO REPRESENT
MARCH ON MARCH ON - CAN YOU FEEL IT IN YOUR SOUL
MARCH ON MARCH ON - AS THE MUSIC TAKES CONTROL
EVERYBODY IN THE STREETS NOW
AS WE HEAR THE CALL
FEEL THE RYTHMN OF THE DRUMS NOW
AS IT TAKES CONTROL
September 2, 2008
The Scarlet Ending
We were fortunate enough to be able to do a one-week tour in both Greenland at the Thule Air Base and Germany at Baumholder, Manheim, Edelweiss, Grafenwoehr, and Spangdahlem with Armed Forces Entertainment this summer, and we had the time of our lives. We cannot thank everyone at those bases for being the kindest and most amazing and inspiring people we’ve ever met. We made so many friends while at our respective locations, and are still happily keeping in touch with many of them.
In Greenland we were lucky enough that the fog lifted after a couple of days to go “Thule Tripping” with Sgt. Spires, climb Mount Dundas with MSgt. McElwee who became a dear friend while there, and even do a polar bear swim with a lot of the people there. We hung out frequently at the TOW club where Mike Easterly and Susan Powell were incredibly kind and generous, and we even had one of their chefs cater to our tricky diets (thanks for all those vegan pizzas and stromboli, Steve!) And even though the 24 hours of complete sunlight and 30 degree show outside made things a little different than how we’re used to things around Central New York, we truly had an amazing time. Everyone there showed us proudly the jobs that they do, and we are so incredibly grateful to all of you. Spending ten days there made us get a lot closer with the staff and members of Thule, and from standing on top of a satellite, to watching a plane land on the air traffic control tower, to riding in a fire truck and getting a mix cd of Danish music (thanks, Stefan!) we will not forget this trip or the people we met.
In Germany we managed to find ourselves placed with THE MOST AMAZING bus driver, Silvio, and sound man, Ben. We all got along so well, and it made the trip that much more enjoyable. We saw so many amazing things on this trip, even just from driving from city to city. Thankfully we had sometime to visit Heidelberg, see a few castles, and do some shopping in Garmisch. And Edelweiss—what a beautiful resort. We were so lucky to have a day off there, where we rented bicycles and rode around the base of the Alps…. Wow. We also met some amazing people there and have kept in touch since. Going around to so many bases in Germany gave us the opportunity to not only see a lot of that beautiful country, but to meet a lot of people from all over the world. We are forever indebted to everyone over there, who was deployed or who was being deployed while we were there. We cannot thank you enough for all that you are doing.
Overall, we had an indescribable experience. We got the opportunity to perform for military personnel and their families, which was the most amazing audience we have and will ever have. We also want to thank Armed Forces Entertainment, Captain Davidson, LT Jarod Trujillo, and George DeGrella for making all of this happen. You are all so wonderful.
-The Scarlet Ending
August 19, 2008
KingCone
I just wanted to express my appreciation for the King Cone show that I
attended while on R&R in Qatar. I would like to say not only is he a
very good performer who put on a good show but also very personable.
The thing that most impressed me about him was the way he interacted
with the Soldiers after the show was over. King did not seem to be in a
rush to get to his room and he stayed and talked to the Troops, that was
great and made the Troops feel appreciated way more than just playing
for them. Please pass my thanks to him and the band.
Thank you,
1SG JOE SEBOURN
345TH CSB
July 11, 2008
The Scarlet Ending
As the General Manager of the TOW Club (Top Of the World) at Thule
Greenland, I have had the pleasure of watching virtually the entire Base
populace fall in love with the exceptionally talented "Scarlet Ending
Band" which AFE was so kind as to send to Greenland. Every member of
the Band was a true ambassador of AFE, as they spent virtually every
minute when they were not on stage, socializing with the men and women
of Thule Air Base. And when on stage, these wonderful individuals
transformed into an absolutely exceptional group of entertainer. It is
without reservation that I am sure that this band will continue to make
great strides in their efforts to entertain the Military communities
they go on to visit.
The consensus of the folks at Thule is that this band will continue
their climb to musical success, and we are extremely proud to have been
their 1st overseas and 1st Military experiences.
Michael W. Easterly, YC-02
General Manager, TOW Club
Thule Air Base, Greenland
March 7, 2008
Seminole County
Well this tour was something extrodinary.
We recieved placs, coins, letters, tear jerking mements and even standing ovations.
Korea and the marine bases in the middle of no where seems to be the ones that was best attended with the best response
God thank you all for this rare and enlightening experience.. we have recieved alot of mails on our site and just cannot wait for another opportunity one day in Middle East or even Germany.
The military are so welcoming and everyone so excited to get the talent when we go
we will do whatever you may ever have, and please keep us in mind..
Our National Anthem version got the most attention through out the tour.
One military guy, just back from Iraq ripped his fglag off his uniform and gave to Bo (lead singer) after the performance
we plan to get pics together and dedicate a section to AFE on our Myspace and website within next week or so.. to inlcude the placs and the letters we got
Thank you so very much for a life experience
Jill Sturdivant-Thacker
JBC Entertainment, LLC
February 1, 2008
Adassa
Hi, this is Adassa. I was just on your European tour in September and
I had the most amazing time. It was an honor giving service to all the
troops and seeing them react to the taste of home that we could bring
them. I've been on several tours with the Armed Forces, and it has been
such a rewarding experience, I would love to do more tours with you this
year.
I will open up my schedule just to be able to do my part and serve
those who serve us so much.
December 12, 2007
Five Star Iris
Just wanted to drop you a note to tell you how great Five Star Iris was for
us here at Al Dhafra. First thing that they did was put on an AWESOME show.
They played great music and interacted nicely with the troops. The next
thing they did was meet and greet with all our folks after the show was
done. They signed autographs, but most importantly they interacted with
everyone that approached them. Then they did the greatest thing. They
agreed to play another show at 0100 in the morning for all the shift workers
that don't get off until midnight. That was really huge on their part!!!
Bottom line, any time you can get this band to play for the troops, DO
IT!!!! Also, try to find more bands like them. We not only feel like they
played a great show for us, but they became our friends.
Lt Col Rick Gindhart
380 AEW Chief of Safety
November 7, 2007
Moon In Leo
The AFE-sponsored band "Moon in Leo" appeared at my remote site last
night and gave an excellent performance. All of our residents on site
attended the performance and were very well pleased. After the
performance the band also spent a lot of time socializing with our
residents and all had a great time.
Thank you for sponsoring the "Moon in Leo" world tour on behalf of our
service men and women, and US contractor personnel also living at remote
locations and working on behalf of our nation's security interests.
Bruce Messinger
FMSC Site Manager
SEAVIN-PSS, OMC
October 6, 2007
Bret Michaels
I just wanted to say thank you to AFE and Bret Michaels and his entire
band and crew. The concert that was performed at Al Asad, Iraq on
071007 was just amazing. I never thought I would get to hear those
songs live. Thank you very very much.
Sgt Kristofer Murzyn
Al Asad, Iraq
MALS-29
August 23, 2007
Cindy Alexander
Why I do what I do…
Hey Cindy,
Wanted to say Thank you so much. You
performed last night at Guantanamo Bay, my husband was in
the audience. He has been there for 7 months now,
without me :O( He enjoyed your show so so much. He
sounded so happy for the first time in a while. He said
you had such a pretty voice and that he wished I was
there, that we would have danced, even though nobody was.
Bless you
Cheers from your new fans Steve and April
June 5, 2007
Laura Sullivan and Honduras
I would like to thank all the people involved in getting this group out to
see us at Joint Task Force - Bravo - Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. It all
started yesterday, when I visited one of the shops on post. I was looking
for T-shirts for my children when a lively helpful woman helped me with
colors and sizes. I didn't realize until the concert that night that that
person was Mrs. Sullivan herself. What a wonderful person, with a beautiful
personality. During the concert, she posed for several photos and wished
all the troops well. It was evident that the crowd was wowed by the many
standing ovations for Mrs. Sullivan and her band. After the last three
weeks, where we've seen multiple traumas each week at the Medical company,
Mrs. Sullivan's and her band's performance was the ticket we needed to
brighten our spirits and start anew. Once again, I am personally thanking
all that were involved to get this stellar performance together!
Respectfully,
William Ingram, Captain, USAF
Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras
May 17, 2007
I'm here, they are there.
Here, in the comfort of my own home. Free to write, feel, or do anything. Free of any burdens in life that would change the world I know. Free to speak, think, and act on any emotion I feel. Free....exactly. I am Free because of people like them. People who fight for our country when they are called to do so. Free because they have the courage to stand up for what they believe in. Courage that takes them across the world. Courage that whispers in their ear every day... they will be home soon. Strength to leave their families and loved ones. The Will to get up every morning not knowing what fate will bring them. The Power to know they are Powerless in what surrounds them. Most importantly, they have Pride.
Pride to fight for our Country. Pride to fight for FREEDOM.
-L. Sullivan
March 20, 2007
REPORT ON ARMED FORCES ENTERTAINMENT TOUR
THE MEN FROM GLORY ROAD TOUR EUROPE
FEBRUARY 12-22, 2007
…A Parting observation from all of us fortunate enough to make this trip and given the
opportunity to do a little something for our country --- “We say to the Men and Women of the
Armed Forces and their families and the folks at Armed Forces Entertainment, particularly
Captain Jesse Davidson, George DeGrella and the MWR folks at the various bases we
visited thank you for the service to our Country – one and all you make us proud!! And to
Disney, Jerry Bruckheimer, Wheaties, Charlie Bloom of CBS, UTEP, Nike, Jorge Garza and
wife, Rich Clarkson and associates, Dan Wetzel, Coaches Don Haskins and Moe Iba and
the rest of the men and women of Glory Road that weren’t able to join us, and all of the rest
of you who supported our journey along the way --- Thank you from the bottom of our hearts
for making this not only possible but a memory of a lifetime.” - read full report
February 6, 2007
Responsibility.
That’s what you feel when a young soldier tells you that the reason he joined the military is because a song you wrote inspired him to do so.
And when that same soldier says “Can I get a picture?” and you notice the LCD display on his digital camera is shattered and he tells you that it was in his chest pocket, and it stopped the bullet that tore all the way through his flack jacket, it really hits home.
And when that same soldier sincerely thanks you for being there and singing for a couple hours, and you thank him back for being there full time, putting his life on the line, and tell him to be careful in Baghdad, it really puts things in perspective.
Performing for Armed Forces Entertainment is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. And once you do one tour, and meet those outstanding young people, you want to do it again.
That’s why I’ve been on seven AFE tours. And why I’ll keep doing them as long as I can.
- Thom Shepherd
February 6, 2007
To be honest Hightower had no clue what they would be facing in their recent Armed Forces Entertainment Tour of Europe. Prior to leaving the states on their first overseas tour, expectations ran both high and low in each man of the crew. Though the tour was fast and furious we all agree it was the high point of this bands six year career thus far.
For those of you who don’t know what Armed Forces Entertainment is, AFE is the official Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to our military personnel serving abroad. Their job is to recruit musicians, bands, magicians and even cheerleaders to visit and perform for troops around the world. Over 1,200 shows a year take place to boost morale and bring a piece of home to those who can’t be home.
Thankfully, we felt each show was a success. Capt Jesse Davidson (USMC), the Europe, Balkans, Medditeranen Circuit Manager, did a great job setting up great shows, especially in the holiday season. Each gig provided its own challenges and unique atmospheres which we tried to accommodate in each case. From the Alpine pub in Garmisch, to the sports bar in Hohenfels and the New Years ball at the NATO base in Belgium, Hightower would have to approach each show from a different angle.
Our first stop on the tour was the Edelweiss Resort in a small town in the Bavarian Alps called Garmisch. This town was home to the Edelweiss Lodge, a popular German resort mainly for U.S. military personnel on vacation. This beautiful Alpine village was also the site of the 1936 Olympics. There we met up with Mr. George DeGrella, the Europe & Balkans Regional Entertainment Coordinator, and Mr. Brad Hays, our point of contact at the Edelweiss Lodge & Resort. After showing us the pub where we would be playing and setting up, we had a quick meal and got ready for the show.
Despite a few technical difficulties the Edelweiss show was a great way to start the tour. The audience had just finished their meal and we were to provide their after dinner entertainment. One of the measures of a good performance with a sit down crowd is to see how many people you can get off their seat by the end of the night. Thankfully, by the end of this show there were a lot of empty chairs and a crowded dance floor. Everyone seemed to enjoy the originals, especially our newest song, “What’s Happening To Me.” To cap the night off we relaxed at a local watering hole, Pub 33. After a day off to get over the jetlag we were headed to the next destination: Hohenfels.
Hohenfels is a large training facility for troops preparing to go to war. It’s the second largest training facility available to U.S. forces in Europe. Our point of contact, Ms Joanne Love, got us set up and then brought us to the sports bar where we would be performing. Playing in bars is how Hightower got its start so obviously we felt very comfortable. Considering most of the base was empty for the holidays (there were only two other people in the mess hall when we ate dinner) we had a good crowd of about thirty or so people.
Once in a while you run into a show where you’re completely unable to read whether or not the crowd approves. What we hear on stage is not the same thing that you hear out there, so we can be a little uncertain if the crowd approves without them up and dancing. Having a good soundman is a key part of the concert. Fortunately, we were completely comfortable with our soundman, Andy Ehrich. During the break we all got great reviews from the audience, one of whom told me, “It sounds great, we just want to sit down and enjoy it.” That was good enough for me.
The next day we took a nine hour trip to Belgium and pulled into a NATO base just outside of the town of Mons. At this point we hadn’t heard any details about what the New Years show would be like. Our tour bus driver, Mike Hein, warned us that it may be a little low key since most people tend to go off base for New Years parties. We all took Mike’s word for it since he’s been touring for AFE for a long time. Not only that but Mike has driven a lot of legends and big acts such as Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Metallica. You could say he’s well-seasoned in the rock and roll tour industry (and also one of the coolest guys I’ve ever met).
Our point of contact, Paul Taylor, met us at the gate and right away took us to the venue and filled us in on the next nights show. The base we were staying at is called SHAPE, which stands for Supreme Headquarters of Allied Presence in Europe. This NATO base had a lot of powerful people and some of them were among the three hundred and fifty who had bought tickets to the New Years Ball. Along with ourselves, there was another local performer named Marc Farmel who would open the show for us.
The next day we took our time setting up and rehearsing during the day and showed up early for the show. The other entertainer did his set while we were enjoying one of the finest meals anyone of us has had in a long time. We watched as he loosened up the crowd singing old American standards karaoke-style with a French accent and two young women doing choreographed dances. The Europeans loved it which made us a little apprehensive that they might not enjoy us turning things around to a rock and roll show.
The crowd was already warmed up before we took the stage and we realized they were obviously in the dancing mood. We had about an hour before the midnight ceremony so we packed all of our best songs into that set and kept the party going. We blistered through each song mixing originals with covers. At one point during the Stones’ “Satisfaction” there wasn’t enough room on the dance floor for everyone who wanted to get on. Some of the old classics we pulled out as crowd pleasers are the same songs we’d throw at the kids back home at Maxfields in Potsdam. It was interesting to see how crowds get the same kick out of “Sweet Home Alabama” on both sides of the pond. We played our last song and then waited for the New Year to come knowing that this not only meant the end of the year, but the end of our tour.
Armed Forces Entertainment did a great job setting up our tour. Everything progressed smoothly thanks to all of our point of contacts, our tour manager, Zach, Captain Jesse Davidson, and especially our tour bus driver, Mike. There wasn’t a dull moment and we were more than happy to do our part for the larger cause. We get to go back home after having our fun, they’re the ones who will be there for who knows how long away from family their family and friends. We appreciate everything they do.
Looking back only a few weeks later the entire trip seems to be fading from memory. Perhaps it’s from the lack of sleep as we were reluctant to waste even a minute of our time there. Six years ago we started this band for our love of music, and it survived because of our friendship. We wrote songs, hung out, played shows and never thought much about where it would take us. Then we found ourselves exploring streets in Brussels, Alpine villages in Germany, and playing for sold out crowds halfway around the world. We’ve been lucky and successful. At this point we could call our career a success, but why stop here? Let’s see where else it takes us. - Hightower
January 23, 2007
To every devoted member of the Raggs Show, I just wanted to take this
time to tell you how much you mean to my almost-four-year-old daughter.
She has seen your performance twice in Okinawa. The last performance
being at the beginning of Decemember 2006. The first performance, she
recieved a stuffed Raggs dog and CD/DVD. Then on the second performance
she recieved a DVD and a CD. She has cherished those items.
Every time we get into the car, she requests the Raggs CD. She knows
almost every song by heart and can even start singing the next song
before it actually begins to play. She loves to play with the doll.
I know when we have been to both shows, there has not been a huge
audience, but your show has always been performed as if you were
perfoming for millions. I just wanted to take the time to let you know
what an awesome thing your group does for the military children. Keep
up the good work and we hope to see in you Okinawa in 2007!
Mother of your number 1 Raggs Fan,
Kendra Wetherington
January 12, 2007
Being apart of the AFE tour is easily one of the proudest moments of my career. It's one thing to talk about supporting the troops and to hang yellow ribbons on your house. It's another thing to get the opportunity to travel over into their turf, look them in the eyes, hear their stories, feel their appreciation, and be able to tell them thanks personally. It changed me profoundly, and it was an experience I will never forget.
God bless the USA and her fighting men and women! - Matt Poss
January 12, 2007
We had a great time on our most recent AFE tour to Europe! Each tour just gets better and better. I finally got some pictures of the trip up on the web. I will continue to add more when I can. I actually want to wait and get a copy of Jeff’s pictures (his are better).
We had the privilege of welcoming home THOUSANDS of very brave Americans who had just made it back to Germany after a long tour of duty in Iraq. We shared a stage with Puddle of Mudd and Los Lobos for 2 HUGE concerts and tried to make sure that everyone forgot where they had just come from for just a second. I think we ALL had a great time. Check out the “tour photos” page on the website.
I was fortunate this time around to have my album “Life in Mosaic” for sale in the PX/BX on the bases. It was a new thing for both AFE and AAFES, and it went well. Be sure to pick it up at a PX/BX near you!
We traveled by tour bus our whole trip and had a great driver, Armin, who kept us safe (and sane) for the long drives through the European countryside. We spent a lot of drives watching movies, sleeping, playing music and recovering from hangovers (that German beer is STRONG) J. We really appreciated the hospitality from all our hosts as well as the great people we met along the way. We had a great time getting to know you all. On a personal note, I had a chance to meet up with one of my best friends that is stationed in K-Town, so that was one of the high points of my trip.
-Jenny Boyle
December 27, 2006:
My name is MSG Byrd and I would like to personally send my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to WWE. I have been on active duty for almost 22 years and am currently stationed at Camp Liberty in Iraq. Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting some WWE Superstars on your visit here for the Tribute to the Troops special. I had the pleasure of allowing my soldiers to go and witness the show live, and I must tell you that you were the talk of the town when they came back. Unfortunately, I could not attend because I let all of my younger soldiers attend the live taping of the show and someone had to work that day. However, I did get to meet the Superstars at the autograph session later that night. That night when I shook Vince McMahon's hand, I relayed my thanks to him for coming over to visit the soldiers.
Words cannot describe the morale boost that your presence and interaction with the soldiers provided. I have been deployed several times and I have never seen the affects that your show had on my Soldiers. Mr. McMahon graciously told me that the pleasure was all his and you could sense just how genuine his comments were to me. Not just that, but all of the Superstars present that night left a long lasting impression on me that I will remember for a very long time. Their willingness to come into "harm's way" as we say in the Army is truly why all of us do our jobs each day. It is people and organizations like you that make it easy for us to willingly do our jobs of protecting and preserving our way of life for our families, friends, and the citizens of the greatest country on earth - the United States of America.
Additionally, the WWE Superstars were just so open and friendly with all of the Soldiers present that night. I did not see one request for a picture or autograph turned down. Their actions mirrored those of what all true professional soldiers exhibit every day - selfless service. You did not have to do it, but you did it out of a sense of genuine desire and not obligation. Actions like these truly make serving our country worthwhile.
I wish everyone at WWE the greatest success, prosperity, and good health for many years to come. I know that seeing the joy you brought to the troops was probably the best thanks you could have received. However, it is still good to hear it every now and then. That being said, this "Old Soldier" would like to just say thank you for all you did for my soldiers on your visit to Iraq. You truly will not know and understand the magnitude your visit had on their lives that day. It allowed them to realize that despite being miles away from home and their loved ones, someone cared enough about them to make a difference and surely it did. Again, I wish all of you at WWE the best of health, success, and prosperity not just for 2007, but for many years to come. -
MSG Whitney Byrd, Jr.,
Camp Liberty, Iraq
May 15, 2006:
Aloha Friends,Wow we are finally finishing up our Southeast Asia Tour and I am actaully writing this Blog on the beach in Hawaii as the sunsets behind me (Isn't my job great!). This has been the craziest trip we have ever been on. We have been gone for 30 days, Logged over 25,000 miles, on 14 flights, 20 some bases, a TON of buses and met some of the coolest troops around. We couldn't thank everyone that has been involved with this tour enough. Our road crew (Scott and Sam, along with our MANY Bus and Van Drivers) have done an awesome job. We have been in every type of venue setting imaginable and these guys have been a HUGE help, so a big thank you to them. The troops as always have been awesome. We can't wait to get back on the road with the AFE anytime the duty calls. I have to admit we do miss home quite alot, so it will be nice to get back but look out America we are coming back out to say hello to the rest of the country as soon as we get a shower and do a few pieces of laundry... Rock & Roll!! Mike - Plunge
July 14, 2005:
Its Jay and I am out in IRAQ: with all the boys. We played at some very real FOB's forward operating bases, the troops have been very supportive of us coming out here and seeing them. We are constantly meeting with new troops all the time, just from walking around the base. 2 days ago we took our first flight on a Blackhawk Helicopter. not 1 not 2 but 3 Black Hawks swooped to pick us up. We loaded on the equipment and headed for our next base. We thoroughly enjoyed our flight. One minute we were flying over complete desert and the next there were little villages with kids running out to wave at us. I know for a fact they could see me waving at them, because some of them didnt wave until I did. We were only 100 feet in the air. Cruising along at about 150mph, you just have to wait to see the pictures and video. The same day of the Black Hawk flight we got to take a ride in a Brad ley fighting vehicle. It looks like a tank to anyone else, but you cant call it a tank or they will kick your ass ! Its a BFV ! We were cruising along at about 50 mph bouncing through the desert, and the turrit operator spun us around, It freaked me out, I thought the whole tank was turning. Now I was standing, kind of popped up like a ground hog sticking out of his hole, and the temp. outside in the sun was about 135 degrees Ferinheit. it was a hot, bumpy, dusty, AWSOME ride and I will never forget it. - Edison
|
