Military Ensembles, Country Stars to Perform FREE Concert February 17 at GWU Lisner Auditorium
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — The Code of Support Foundation (COSF) announced today a spectacular lineup of musical performers who will be joining forces in a special Presidents' Day weekend concert saluting veterans and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's "Hiring Our Heroes" program. Dubbed "A Musical VETStravaganza," the concert is set for 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 17 at George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st St., NW in Washington, D.C. Doors will open at 2:30 p.m. The concert is FREE and open to the public, but tickets are required.
The renowned 70-voice West Point Cadet Glee Club leads the list of performers, along with the West Point Alumni Glee Club comprising veterans who average nearly 20 years of service with 75% combat veterans among its members. The hot military quartet and Sony Music recording artists "4TROOPS" and CAMMO recording artists "Homefire" Military Spouses Choir (created by sixteen time Grammy Award winner David Foster) will add their special talents to the program.
Special VETStravaganzaguest stars include Mark Wills, a multi-platinum selling country music star with eight top-10 hits to his name, and rising star David Kroll, who recently released a new single, "Little Soldiers," saluting family members who remain at home while Dad or Mom is deployed.
According to Maj. Gen. (Ret) Alan Salisbury, COSF chairman and CEO, this concert is intended to promote the hiring of veterans and military spouses, and support the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's "Hiring Our Heroes" program. "Along with the musical numbers, we'll feature a number of local employers such as Booz Allen Hamilton who have great success stories to tell about veterans in their organizations," said Salisbury. "The audience will leave this concert with an appreciation that hiring a veteran is not an act of charity, it's the smartest thing any company can do for their organization."
In addition to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, a dozen nonprofits are joining with the COS foundation as co-presenters of the VETStravaganza concert. These include Blue Star Families, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), National Louis University (NLU), Operation Homefront, Points of Light/Military Initiatives, Student Veterans of America (SVA), Teach for America, USO, and the Wounded Warrior Mentor Program.
"This concert is a great example of how the community of military family, veteran and troop support organizations can accomplish big things by working together," said Kristy Kaufmann, executive director of the Code of Support Foundation. "We share common goals and common interests that provide opportunities for cooperation and leveraging our collective resources."
Tickets for the VETStravaganzaConcert are general admission and free of charge. Tickets may be obtained online at www.lisner.org or by phone at 202- 994-6851 or through the box office at 202-994-9599. Box Office hours are 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Background: The Code of Support Foundation is dedicated to bridging the gap between the American people and our Armed Forces. Its mission is to ensure all Americans understand the service and sacrifice of our troops and their families and are committed and actively engaged in doing their part in defending freedom. The foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, was established in 2010, and helps identify, vet and support other nonprofit organizations that support military communities. The foundation has created a "Code of Support" for our troops intended to help Americans give meaning to the words "Support Our Troops." The Code of Support parallels the military "Code of Conduct" which guides all service members. In the first article of the Code of Conduct, our troops pledge that they are prepared to give their lives in our defense. The Code of Support is a simple set of promises all Americans can make to our armed forces in return.
More information on the Code of Support and the foundation may be found at www.codeofsupport.org.
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The Code of Support Foundation. 2050 Ballenger Ave, Suite 400, Alexandria, VA 22314
571-527-3232 www.codeofsupport.org
CONTACT: John Grady, 703-250-4869
Kristy Kaufmann, 580-647-6478