Toby Keith wows ’em at wounded veterans’ convention

[SR-25]

ORLANDO, Fla. — Wearing the sort of grin someone wears when he knows the gift he’s about to give will be a big hit, Cpl. Jose R. Martinez stood on the stage and handed a folded jacket to country music star Toby Keith.
“We figured you already had a lot of coins so we wanted to give you something you probably didn’t have,” Martinez said into the microphone, watching Keith unfold the shiny green bomber-style jacket. It was covered with the patches of all the major Army units that have been to Iraq and Afghanistan.

And it was his size.

The crowd erupted in applause and shouts and howls of approval as Keith looked over the gift appreciatively and then put it on.

“When we hear you sing, it’s therapy for us,” Martinez told Keith, provoking a swell of cheers from the audience of more than 500 disabled war on terror vets and their friends and families.

Keith’s appearance at the first annual convention of the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes was nothing short of spectacular, wrapping up a night of entertainment with a performance that seemed more like a revival meeting.

As he sang “Beer For My Horses,” “American Soldier” and “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue,” those who could moved toward the stage like moths drawn to a flame. Even otherwise detached journalists and photographers could be seen smiling and mouthing the words.

Cameras flashed and the room swayed in a big group hug as Keith stood alone at center stage, dressed-down in ragged denim

“It’s what he says. He talks about everything that’s going on,” said Sgt. Giovanni Bennett, 21, of Georgetown, Texas, an infantryman with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, whose legs were covered with shrapnel April 4 in Kirkuk after an attack by a suicide car bomber.

Keith told the audience that he gets a lot of requests for appearances, especially at events honoring the veterans of the war on terror.

“But this one made sense,” said Keith, in reference to the gathering of the wounded service members, who were invited to a four-day conference-vacation free of charge at Disney World. “I get called a hero a lot, but I’m just a songwriter. It’s because of people like you that I can even stand up here and do this.”

More cheers. More applause. More howling.

Keith’s sometimes controversial lyrics have made him a true folk hero among the troops because, as Bennett said, “He sings about us.”

“When I went to Iraq, country music is what helped me through,” Bennett said.


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