Lynyrd Skynyrd to play in military fundraiser

Lynyrd Skynyrd has partnered with country stars Big & Rich and others to help raise money for a memorial to the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Skynyrd's previously scheduled October 7th date at the HiFi Buys Amphitheatre in Atlanta will now include Big & Rich, John Anderson, Cowboy Troy, and the Lost Trailers, with more names to be added to the bill. Singer Johnny Van Zant said, "Lynyrd Skynyrd is honored to be part of this event. It's the least we can do to help build a memorial for the 173rd Airborne, who have lost so many and helped protect this country."

The members of Lynyrd Skynyrd are long-time supporters of the military, and while Van Zant knows there are differences of opinion about U.S. policy overseas, he told us that can't ever get in the way of backing the people in uniform: "Was it right? Was it wrong? You know what? No matter whether it was right or wrong, we gotta stand behind our troops. Our troops are real young kids. You know, most of 'em joined up to get a better education, and better their lives, and now they're in a, a war situation. And for someone not to back 'em who is an American, you know, is just wrong, so we all gotta stand behind them."

The 173rd Airborne was looking at a five-year fundraising plan for a memorial to honor fallen members of the unit, but, with Skynyrd and the others on board, the goal is now to raise $500,000 from the show. All profits will go towards building the 173rd Airborne Brigade National Memorial, which will be located at the National Infantry Museum in Fort Benning, Georgia.

Tickets for the show range from $15 for lawn seats, all the way up to $1,000, which gets you premium seating, an autographed guitar, and some private time with the performers.

Skynyrd plays Raley Field in West Sacramento, California, on Thursday, August 24th.

Big & Rich are connected to the cause through their song "The 8th Of November," which was written about 173rd Airborne veteran Niles Harris, who earned a Purple Heart after being wounded in Vietnam on November 8th, 1965. The country singers have become friends with Harris, and they went to Vietnam with him last year. "The 8th Of November" is on the Big & Rich album Comin' to Your City, which came out last year.
Submit the above story to:

Del.icio.us   Digg   reddit   StumbleUpon   Facebook