Daniels Rocks RTC with 'Spirit of America'

9/18/2003

By Chief Journalist Rhonda Burke, Naval Training Center Great Lakes Public Affairs

NAVAL TRAINING CENTER GREAT LAKES (NNS) -- In a concert that celebrated the "Spirit of America," the legendary Charlie Daniels Band performed for more than 11,000 recruits in training at Recruit Training Command (RTC), Great Lakes, Sept. 11.

"How wonderful it is to look out at you people who have given some of the best years of your life to defend this nation," Daniels told the troops. "We owe a great deal of respect and admiration to the people who give of themselves to defend this nation."

Daniels performed following a memorial service to remember the victims of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. 

Musician 3rd Class Kenny Horton of Navy Band Great Lakes sang the National Anthem, as more than 11,000 recruits and staff members stood at attention on Recruit Training Command's North Porter Grinder. It marked just the second time in recent memory that nearly all recruits in training at the Navy's only boot camp assembled together. The last was for the Sept. 11, 2002, memorial service.

Lt. John Kalantzis of the Chaplain Corps delivered brief remarks at the memorial service, encouraging recruits to remember the victims of Sept. 11 while they continued their Navy training.

Following the memorial service, the band "Hometown News" took to the stage to entertain the Sailors. Band member Scott Whitehead, a former Navy F/A-18 Hornet pilot who served in the Persian Gulf War, said playing for the Navy was extra special for him.

"We enjoy playing for the military every chance we get," Whitehead said. "But to be able to play for this audience at boot camp is very special to me, because of my naval service."

Daniels, who makes no secret of his support for the military, said he enjoys playing for the troops whenever he can.

"I do this because I am very pro-military," Daniels said of the concert. "I was too young for the first couple of wars in my life; I was too old for the next couple. This is my way of serving. It's the only way I can. I just like to come out and say this is what we do, and we're doing it for you."

Capt. Kathryn Hobbs, commanding officer of Naval Station, Great Lakes and Capt. O. W. Wright, commanding officer of Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes,  thanked the performers and presented mementos to the members of the Charlie Daniels Band and Hometown News. 

Daniels has donated his time for the performance, which is presented by the "Spirit of America Tour," a production of the Robert and Nina Rosenthal Foundation, Inc. in coordination with the Naval Station's Morale, Welfare and Recreation department.

The "Spirit of America Tour" has brought a number of professional entertainers to U.S. military bases over the past year. Artists such as Jo Dee Messina, Travis Tritt, Riders in the Sky and Lee Greenwood have performed on the tour. Rosenthal, a retired Hollywood entertainment lawyer, and his wife, Nina, conceived the idea of the "Spirit of America" tour following the events of Sept. 11, 2001. 

"We have such great response to our artists from the troops, and the artists love performing for them," Rosenthal said. "We are so grateful to the men and women in the military and what they do for our country."

The tour specifically plays free shows for members of the military as a way of thanking them for their service to the country. The foundation underwrites the costs of the show, and all the headliners have agreed to play for no charge. To date, 15 shows have been booked in 2003, and response to the tour has been overwhelmingly positive for both the military members and the performers.

For related news, visit the Naval Training Center Great Lakes Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/greatlakes