Dan and I went to see the Spirit of America concert at the Dunkin Donut's Center. It was an AMAZING concert! I recommend this show to anyone! It is a free show, but you do have to order tickets in advance. Dan and I were both impressed, we said it was so amazing we would have definitely been willing to pay for the show!

Before the show, they had a t-shirt brigade shooting t-shirts into the crowd to get them psyched up!

The Army concert band began by playing a medley of songs, including the "Green Berets" and "Proud To Be An American." They played wonderfully! After they were finished, the show continued with A Welcome, a March-On that depicted different uniforms throughout the years, and "The National Anthem."

After that, they gave us a history of the Army, which was "The Backbone of the Army,"(The Noncommissioned Officer's Story), the "Birth of the Army and the Nation," f/The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, "The Corps of Discovery," "Crisis and Conflict," "The Army of the West," "D-Day," and "Today's Army." It was all incredibly interesting, and I learned things I never knew. They also simulated wars, and shot off rifles and cannons! There was also a fife and drum show, and they did an awesome floor show! The percussionists did some fancy moves with their drums!

That was the first half of the show. It sped by, and I was surprised when we arrived at intermission so quickly!

The second half of the show was even more amazing! It started off with the US Army Drill Team. They showed off their skills with 1903 bayoneted rifles. They twirled them, threw them, marched with them. Even had their Commander stand in the center of a circle and they twirled and caught the rifles so the bayonets pointed right at his throat! He didn't even flinch! What stamina, what trust! Four specialists did special maneuvers with their rifles, so intense I was unable to take pictures for fear of distracting them. They concluded their show with their signature move.

The remainder of the show was the US Army Band "Pershing's Own," and they performed a floor show, which lead into the finale. The finale was spectacular, they had kind of a rock feel to it, and played popular songs such as "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Dance To The Music," "Wind Beneath My Wings," and "You Raise Me Up," and they put in a couple songs about the Army that were tearjerkers. A lot of the songs made me cry, it was very touching and moving.

They ended the show on a light note, had a comedy bit with a "drill team" who used pushbrooms squaring off against a member of the actuall Army Drill Team and it was amusing. A good way to end such an emotional show! I also liked the fact they played the songs of the different military branches and honored friends, family, and veterans.

I have so much respect for our troops and the scarifices they make for us everyday. God Bless and Watch Over Our Troops, especially Staff SGT Bethany Bedard!