The Tellico Village Singers will be holding a concert Friday and Saturday at the Community Church at Tellico Village with a special focus on an organization that helps families of fallen soldiers.
“The Village Singers are once again sharing with the community our love of singing through a free patriotic concert,” Jan Sampson, vice president of the group, said. “This will be the fifth patriotic concert showing our love of country and appreciation for all those who serve and continue to serve in the military.”
The concert will feature a special focus and video segment that pays tribute to the armed forces and their families.
The event is free, but TVS is asking for donations to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
“This is an amazing organization who fully funds the education of the children from preschool through college of the special operations warriors who have fallen,” Sampson said. “They also assist the students in finding jobs related to their education.”
Retired four-star Gen. Doug Brown, a Tellico Village resident, will be presenting a short description of SOWF. He is currently an emeritus board member.
Brown retired from the Army after a 40-year career that began at the rank of private. As a sergeant, he was accepted to and graduated from Officer Candidate School.
As a former commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, he is quite knowledgable of the sacrifices made by service members. He began working with SOWF in 2007.
He said the organization was started in 1980 following the death of special operations troops during the Desert One attempt to free American hostages from Iran. The foundation is primarily about the education of the children of fallen special operations troops, he said.
“Money should not be a barrier to their education,” Brown said.
The foundation provides $8,000 to each student from preschool to high school for education and tutoring. High school seniors are provided $1,000 to visit colleges as well as guidance in their choice of college and coaching on how to write essays and apply for admission.
Once at college, participants in the program receive all tuition, room and board and a stipend for living and travel expenses. A computer and tutoring is also provided.
Almost 500 children of special operation troops have been in the program through graduation and another 1,000 are in the program now. Graduation rates are higher for those participating because they get support all through college.
Brown said the organization provides a promise to the men and women who engage in hazardous missions that their children’s education will be covered. The organization also provides a $10,000 payment to the families of catastrophically injured special operations service members within 48 hours of their injury.
He said he recalls handing a check for $10,000 to the wife of an injured U.S. Army Ranger and her gratitude for the support provided the family during a difficult time.
A two-minute video of a recipient of the foundation will also be shown during the concert. Brochures about the foundation will be distributed.
Sampson said participation in the fundraiser is an example of how Tellico Village residents support members of the military. The concert is also a tribute to American culture.
“Besides many of our country’s traditional patriotic songs, we will also have several American folk songs to present,” she said.
Ice cream will be available for purchase from the Tic Toc Ice Cream food truck before and after concert performances. No ice cream will be allowed in the church.
