I hope you don’t mind that I’m not writing today about a specific artist and his/her music, instead I want to take this time to give thanks to our country music stars that go the extra mile to show their support for our troops. Whether you support the war in Iraq or not, I hope that you at least support our troops who give of themselves to defend our country.

Last week I was watching TV and saw where Toby Keith was on his fifth USO tour to Iraq and Afghanistan. Having been in the army myself, I remember having the USO tours come through Korea and what it did for the morale, but mind you we weren’t in a war and these stars weren’t putting their lives in danger by being there. Toby and other country music stars like, Neal McCoy, Chely Wright, Carrie Underwood, Jo Dee Messina, Montgomery Gentry and Rascal Flatts have put themselves in the middle of these war zones as a way to show our troops their deepest appreciation. Now, it’s easy to say you support our troops and perform for them on Military bases around the world when it is a safe place to travel but to perform by traveling to these war zone countries is a selfless act and deserves our greatest appreciation. I know they do from me. Toby spoke of mortar attacks where he was performing for the troops; they are warned of these kinds of conditions before they choose to go, yet they do so because this is an honor to them and they feel it is the least they can do. What a humble attitude.

My son Steven, is serving in the Navy on the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and will be deployed to the Middle East in a couple of months. Our nephew Jordan is in the Army’s Special Ops and just returned from his second tour in Afghanistan; along with a couple of cousins and friends. It is comforting to me to know that these stars are giving of themselves to boost the morale of our military personnel by reminding them of the home and values they are defending. For this they have my deepest respect and appreciation. I salute them for a job well done!!

Kellie Roberts