Long before she was named the 2001 Female Vocalist of the Year by the Country Music Association, Lee Ann Womack harbored an immense respect for the heroes that serve our country. Her lifelong patriotism, along with her ten year career as an entertainer, has enabled her to visit bases within and outside of the United States. Lee Ann was among the first performers to visit our servicemen and women in Kuwait and Qatar when the Afghanistan Campaign began in 2002. Since that time, Lee Ann remains committed to showing her daughters, Aubrie and Anna Lise, exactly what true sacrifice is. As a mother and an entertainer . . . she understands that freedom is a privilege for which many brave people have sacrificed. To help her daughters understand this, they have traveled with Lee Ann to visit the troops and have seen firsthand the courage of our service men and women. The cause is also close to Lee Ann's heart because her assistant, Courtney Crist, has a younger brother that joined the Marines in 2003. While serving, Lance Corporal Samuel Crist was shot in Fallujah on November 9, 2004 and was medically discharged in 2006. Lee Ann claims that . . . "when Sam left for Iraq, it brought the war directly into my household." At the same time, Lee Ann and her staff learned of the basic needs of the troops overseas, which in turn led her to partner with AnySoldier.com to bring awareness to our troops. And at her 2006 fan club party, fans became involved by sending care packages to those currently stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. In June 2006, Lee Ann performed in Italy for the Army's Welcome Home Celebration. She relates the experience in her own words... "It's not every day you wake up knowing ahead of time it's gonna be one of the greatest days of your life. It was my honor this morning to shake the hands of American Soldiers and Marines, look them in the eye and personally thank them for what they've done for my family."
To honor the wounded, Lee Ann partnered with the Coalition To Salute America's Heroes in late 2004 and performed for their Wounded Warrior Convention in Orlando. She visited with the wounded at Bethesda Naval Hospital in the summer of 2005. Most recently, she visited the wounded at Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany. Lee Ann is well known for her 2000 crossover hit "I Hope You Dance." She earned a Grammy from her 2003 duet "Mendocino County Line" with Willie Nelson. In 2005, she earned much critical acclaim for "There's More Where That Came From," an album deeply rooted in traditional country sound. It was named the Country Music Association's Album of the Year and included the Single of the Year, "I May Hate Myself in the Morning." Assistance from Stars For Stripes
resulted in this tribute to Lee Ann Womack. | 
