Fans enjoy camaraderie of Wesley concert
A small but enthusiastic crowd danced, shouted and clapped as country star James Wesley performed on stage at Saturday’s Hope for the Warriors’ music festival at River Landing, held as part of the nonprofit’s observance of the 10-year anniversary of 9/11.
Wesley’s fans danced as the country star and his band played the songs they loved. (Photo by Michael Staton)
He encouraged them to get closer to the stage and they did.
One mother sat her child on the edge of the stage while a photographer took photos of her and her daughter. Wesley leaned down and posed with them as he sang.
Several young women took up theatrical poses before the stage for boyfriends or husbands with cameras.
When he announced that his next song would be his hit “Real,” the crowd shouted its approval.
“I thank the troops every time I sing this song,” he told his fans, many of them active duty military and their families or veterans and their families.
They were all there in support of Hope For The Warriors and its cause – supporting wounded service members, their families and the families of the fallen.
Wesley said he too was glad to be on stage supporting Hope For The Warriors.
“We drove straight here from Nashville,” he told the crowd, turning to his fellow band members. “What time did we leave?”
The musicians shrugged.
Wesley laughed. “They don’t know. I’m thinking it was 10 p.m. last night.”
While folks danced and clapped to his songs and the songs of other artists like Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash, small kids darted in and out of the crowd, playing tag.
Between songs, Wesley spoke about his respect and admiration for wounded warriors like retired Army National Guard SSG Dale Beatty, Navy SEAL Lt. Jason Redman and Marine Capt. Ryan Voltin.
“I’ve been blown away by what I’ve seen,” Wesley said, adding that they are “real” heroes.
Earlier in the night Beatty had played drums in the band Southern Fried Musicians Association, which performed between the Wilmington band Bald Fury and Wesley.
Redman had a display set up at the concert for his two-year-old business, Wounded Wear. He and his wife were selling Wounded Wear t-shirts to festival-goers as a fund-raising effort. Redman provided at least one clothing kit to a fellow wounded warrior – Manuel Jimenez who lost his left arm in Afghanistan.
While undergoing reconstruction and recovery, Redman struggled to find clothing he could wear around the medical devices necessary for healing. Thus was born Wounded Wear and the desire to provide clothing, uniforms and modifications as necessary to the nation’s wounded warriors.
Redman hopes to get a store chain to sell the brand. He hasn’t approached any chains yet. He’s waiting until Wounded Wear gets further exposure and good publicity.
Just before James Wesley began performing, Pepsi in partnership with CVS stores in North Carolina contributed $50,000 to Hope For the Warriors. A check presentation took place on the stage.
Earlier Saturday, Hope For The Warriors held the 9/11 Hope Classic Golf Tournament and the 9/11 Run For The Warriors 5K Race.
A morning worship service was held at 9 a.m. Sunday followed by the Hope Ride Motorcycle Poker Run at 11 a.m.
A group of military wives founded Hope For The Warriors in North Carolina in 2006. While headquartered in North Carolina, the organization maintains offices in New York, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. Its representatives cover Texas, California, Florida, Illinois and Wyoming.
