Airmen help honor vets at country music awards show

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Jon Stock
  • 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
LAS VEGAS (AFPN) --  Backstage, the anticipation of the curtains rising was surreal as 40 Airmen and eight veterans waited to make their national television debut during the 41st Academy of Country Music awards program May 23.

With a quick nod and a smile from the band to calm their nerves, the director yelled, “We’re live” as the stage curtains rolled away.

Before them, country music duo Big & Rich were about to pay tribute to American veterans with a rendition of their hit song, “The 8th of November.”

There was a quick cheer -- and then silence -- from the country music star-studded audience that filled the MGM Grand Garden Hotel Arena as Kenny Alphin and John Rich performed.

The Airmen, from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., stood at attention in the background as the duo paid tribute to the veterans -- each a Purple Heart Medal recipient -- from a local American Legion post on behalf of all military veterans of past and present wars.

As the backlighting dimmed and stage lights came up to reveal the faces of the Airmen on stage, the eight World War II, Vietnam, Korean War and Desert Storm veterans walked or rolled their wheelchair next to the singers. The Airmen saluted them.

“When the music began playing and we stood saluting the veterans there was a huge sense of pride that came to my heart,” said operations intelligence analyst Airman 1st Class Shaun Pechin with the 547th Intelligence Squadron. “These veterans made a great sacrifice -- and gave me the chance to serve my country today.”

When the singers played their last chords, the audience stood and gave the veterans and Airmen a standing ovation.

“Standing out there brought tears to my eyes and made me more proud than ever,” said retired Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Harry Grater, a World War II veteran.

The duo said the inspiration for the song came from Vietnam experiences of one of their buddies, retired Army Master Sgt. Niles Harris. The song is one Soldier’s account of the realities of war and how they continue to affect him today. Their tribute was to their friend and the thousands of other veterans and those who serve today because they “represented our country with courage and bravery and throughout the world.”

Tech. Sgt. Brent Hall, a program security manager with the 98th Range Wing, feels it is important to honor “those who came before us,” he said.

“Last night’s tribute being nationally televised with a standing ovation from the audience made it even more special,” the sergeant said.

“Saluting the veterans was the greatest experience of the night,” said Maj. Ken Whitlock, 99th Air Base Wing director of staff. “They are the men and women who provided us the opportunity to live in a free country.

“It was an honor to meet each veteran,” the major said. “It was a privilege to share the stage with them. These men and women are truly American heroes.”

After the show, Airmen joined the encore party at the hotel’s conference center, where many of the country music artists put on another show.

Senior Airman Kelly Barczykowski had what she said was the experience of a lifetime when the duo of Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry pulled her on stage and asked her to help them sing their hit song, My Town.

“It was an overwhelming feeling of respect and gratitude and I was honored to be there,” Airman Barczykowski said. “Singing with Montgomery Gentry, and getting pictures with both of them, made my night all that much better. I was proud to represent the Air Force.”