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Saluting The Troops At The Houston Rodeo
(March
26, 2009) | 
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David Bancroft with Marine Honor Guard at the Salute to Our Troops' celebration |
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When I learned about the
Salute to
Our Troops' celebration at the
Rodeo in Houston, Texas (my hometown) on March 18, 2009 . . . I
immediately changed
my plans to attend it. Ever since the
founding of USA Patriotism! shortly after the tragic
terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 and with my youngest
son still in the Marines . . . one of my priorities with it
has been to support and honor our brave, proud troops
everyday through the listing of poems, songs, videos,
articles, photos, tributes, and more. (Some of the
poems and articles are mine.)
And it includes doing so in person
whenever possible! |
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| Not only did I want to be
able to extend my thanks to the troops who would be there .
. . it gave me the opportunity to finally meet Keni Thomas,
who with his Cornbread band, was the headliner of the outdoor show that occurred before the rodeo.
Keni Thomas, a rising country artist with several top hits, is one of
those stars, who is always there for the troops wherever they may be
serving. He is also a decorated combat veteran of the elite 75th Ranger
Rgt special operations unit . . . receiving the bronze star for valor. |
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Troops, veterans, and their loved ones enjoying
the performances by the artists
at the Salute to Our Troops' celebration |
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Well, with the assistance of Robin Young-Ellis, founder of the
Salute to
Our Troops and Sean Gilfillan,
co-founder To The
Fallen Records (TTFR),
and their associates . . . I was able to meet with many of
the troops; |
Keni Thomas; Keni's fellow TTFR artists, Chad Van Rys and Cliff Hudson; and,
Nash3.
Nor did Keni and his fellow performers disappoint either . . . all doing
so for free, as they were there to honor the troops in song and meeting
with them afterwards.
Nash3 (Bill, Kim, and Jimmy Nash) were the first to perform,
which included singing “In God We Still Trust” . . . and was a major hit for
Diamond Rio. Upon meeting with them, I learned that Bill and Kim Nash
had written this great song. |
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David Bancroft with Bill, Kim, and Jimmy Nash |
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Next, was Cliff Hudson, who served in Iraq with the Marines and is still
subject to recall as he has about three years remaining in the Marines
Individual Ready Reserve. This personable, talented young man
really |
Marine Cliff Hudson performing his
heartfelt song, “Send My Love” for
fellow troops at Salute to Our Troops |
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touched his fellow troops and
patriots with the performance of his song,
Send My
Love. He also kindly shared the following heart
touching thoughts about how he wrote the song...
“I met my wife while serving in a detachment for Central
Naval Command in London. She was there after graduating
from Vanderbilt for an internship and had just arrived a
few days before . . . About five minutes after I met her
I knew I was finished and later promised her that if she
would put up with me as an Enlisted Infantry Marine that
I'd go anywhere she wanted me to. I proposed to Ashley
before I left on my last deployment to Ar Ramadi, Iraq. |
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Of course in Iraq, with the pace we had to keep, a standard guitar was
out of the question for me, but around 2 1/2 months into my deployment
my soon to be father-in-law saw an article about a Marine who had found
a way to get bagpipes to Iraq and decided that if that Marine could have
bagpipes then his future son-in-law could have a guitar. He bought and
shipped me a Martin backpacking guitar.
I didn't know about it until the package arrived after one of our
trips outside wire and when I saw what it was I was almost scared to
open it. I had forgotten how much I longed to play and write and
exactly how much emotion had built up while I'd been in Iraq. |
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that happened was that everything I was feeling about
missing Ashley came out and, "Send My Love" was written.
The entire time that Ashley and I had been together,
we'd been apart due to my deployments |
| and "Send My Love" was the only way I really knew how to
tell her and to make sense of everything I was feeling.
The way the song has been taken in by military families
as a way of getting through their times apart was
something that kind of caught me off guard. I wrote the
song simply to get my thoughts out and that it has
helped others going through similar situations is one of
the more humbling and gratifying things that I have
found in my life.”
Cliff Hudson also reflected on his military service... |
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David Bancroft with Cliff Hudson |
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“When I look back at my life, I can honestly say that there isn't one
thing that I'd change. I have seen many things and experienced many
experiences, but all those have helped shape who I am today. I am proud
of my time in The United States Marine Corps and even more proud of the
Marines I've worked for, beside, and those that fought like hell while
in my charge . . . If nothing else, I hope that my story offers those in
similar situations a little hope and shows that there are happy endings
out there . . . I'm living proof of that." |
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Marine veteran Chad Van Rys performing his heart grabbing song, "Once A Marine", for troops at the Salute to Our Troops' celebration |
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Chad Van Rys, a Marine
veteran who had three tours in Iraq, followed Cliff with
another moving performance that included his song,
Once A
Marine, that brought memories of my son when he was in Iraq. (My wife,
who took all the photos, shed a few motherly tears.)
Chad, like Cliff, used his musical talent to entertain his fellow
Marines while on active duty.Chad explains...
“I have many reasons as to why I
joined the Marines, and if I had to, I would do it all over again.
If the music I played while we were out in the sand made somebody
else smile or laugh or go somewhere else even if only in their
mind...then...I am satisfied.
For me, the music was an escape and
hopefully when I played somebody else got to escape too . . . It
almost felt like I was back home at the lake with some friends, just
relaxing by a campfire. It was therapeutic.
I wrote most of my songs either in the
barracks or overseas and I think that they are all fairly
self-explanatory. There are only a few songs that are not true
events, moments, memories or dreams."
Chad appears to be a man of few
words, but he uses them very well in his music.
(Marines are more about action anyway.) |
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David Bancroft with Chad Van Rys |
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Then shortly before Keni Thomas and Cornbread performed, Wayne Newton
came on stage. He didn't sing this day, but honored the troops with
words of praise and encouragement that would have made Bob Hope proud.
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Wayne Newton was visiting troops in nearby bases in his role with the
USO,
which was also represented by its CEO and President, Sloan Gibson, at
the Salute To The Troops' celebration.
It was also an honor being able to
meet with Wayne Newton again. I first met him in Las Vegas two
years ago, where I gave him with a signed copy of my
poem, Danke Wayne Newton.
Wayne is also honored at USA Patriotism!
as a Great American
Patriot and in the
Stars There For
The Troops. I believe Newton is second
only to Bob Hope in time spent in unconditional support of the
troops. He is much more than a great entertainer. He
epitomizes one's love and pride of America . . . that is
unselfishly displayed everyday! |
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David Bancroft with legendary
entertainer, Wayne
Newton |
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Wayne Newton's words are self-explanatory...
"These men and women
are over there because our country sent them, and we have the
absolute necessity to try to bring them as much happiness as we
can.” |
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Keni Thomas (third right)) and
Cornbread band performing, "Hero", that brought
tears of pride too many in the crowd. |
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Oh, I forgot to mention
earlier that Keni Thomas and I actually met as I
arrived. We just sort of ran into each other right before he sang
the National Anthem that included a memorable fly over by two F-16s from
Ellington Air Force base.
We had a much longer visit after his and Cornbreads' nearly one hour
performance that included several heartfelt songs from his
Flags Of Our Fathers: A Soldier's Story CD, which I consider one of the best
patriotic CDs. |
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Hero and
Not Me were very
emotional for many in the audience with some parents of fallen
heroes coming up to Keni after his
performance . . . while I was speaking with him.
They all expressed their thanks to him for the
touching words he wrote and sang, which obviously comes
from his heart. Keni even comforted one mother who
was very tearful. |
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I even had an opportunity to
expresses my sincere
appreciation to the parents of a son (photo right)
who bravely served our beloved country and sadly
made the ultimate sacrifice in 2002 while serving in
Afghanistan. As a father of Marine veteran,
who served in Iraq during 2003, I have a sense of
their loss. And the
thought of possibly losing my son, as they did
theirs, is the reason why I wrote my poem,
Honoring The Fallen. (I
wrote
Tears For Your Fallen
when an online friend's son made the ultimate
sacrifice in Iraq.) |
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I have a feeling Keni Thomas, Cliff Hudson,
and Chad Van Rys might approach writing their songs the same way
. . . just that they do so from personally experiencing harm's
way and all that comes with it.
In fact, Keni Thomas'
following words should give you a good idea of who he is... |
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David Bancroft with Keni Thomas |
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"We are Americans. We're still one nation under God and believe it or
not, we all feel the same about the country we live in. We are grateful
for it's opportunities. We value our freedom. We are proud of our
military. We love our kids and we want what is best for them.”
Keni Thomas has also been
recognized by USA Patriotism! in its
Stars There For
The Troops . . . for his tireless support of the
troops . . . which he did so again in Houston.
He
reminds me of Wayne Newton, Gary Sinise, and other
stars / celebrities who never say no when it comes to
doing something for our troops, which includes being
the national spokesman for the
Hero Fund and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. |
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| Now, I want to make it very clear . . . that
meeting the young men and women who are
actively serving in my |
| hometown with many of
them having one or more deployments in harm's way . . . was
the most gratifying time I had . . . as enough thanks and
praise cannot be said to or about them. It just so
happens to apply to Keni Thomas, Cliff
Hudson, and Chad Van Rys, who are now veterans . . .
supporting the troops with their musical talents and other
efforts. And I was fortunate to meet more of
the 1,600 troops later too . . . as
Salute to
Our Troops
(Houston, Texas) also treated them and their spouses / dates to
dinner, the rodeo, and Gary Alan's concert in Reliant Stadium from
several of its suites.
All of it was made possible by donations and
sponsorships from generous patriots. A thanks also goes to the Houston
Rodeo and Livestock show in providing the venue that allowed for the Salute to
Our Troops celebration.
I can only imagine how many more troops
will be at the third Salute To The Troops celebration in 2010, which I
am looking forward to attending and doing more.
Hopefully, every city will
start honoring the local active troops and reservists similarly . . . and that the residents will contribute as they
can . . . then come out and show their appreciation for the brave, proud
ones serving our beloved USA. |
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David Bancroft with soldiers (left to
right) SSG Ana Casas,
SGT Tori Brandum, SSG Dustin Jaeger, and SSG Bill Miller
David Bancroft with two disabled
soldiers who were
wounded while bravely serving us all in harm's way |
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