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BENEFIT CONCERT FOR TROOPS ABOARD BIG J
United We Stand Concert Slated for
Battleship New Jersey
Hundreds are expected to gather on the deck of the Battleship New Jersey in Camden on Saturday, May 30 for live music that – if a local musician has his way – will be the springboard to funding free concerts at military bases around the country.
The concert – which will feature live music from some of New Jersey and Philadelphia’s best loved bands and musicians from 11am until 5 pm – is designed as a family day to promote the goal of unity and patriotism, as well as raise funds to support the morale of both our fighting troops and their families here at home. The range of music will be gospel to rock and everything in between. Included in the line-up is the Liberty Corner Church Choir, Vickie Wallace, former lead singer of The Three Degrees, Nik Everett, Roger Gardella, and Alan Grant andPrimitive Soul performing the centerpiece anthem, “United We Stand.” All proceeds from the concert will go towards funding concerts on military bases, care packages sent to our troops, and the continued support of the USS Battleship New Jersey.
Supported by the NJ State Chamber of Commerce, Somerset Medical
Center, Christensen Tamburi Communications, Operation Shoebox New Jersey, and Sergeant Communications, the foundation and message contained in the patriotic anthem “United We Stand!” is a labor of love by Bridgewater songwriter Alan Grant and Denise Lang, author and trauma therapist – two Baby Boomers who lived through the Vietnam era and vowed that they never wanted to see American troops treated poorly again, despite dissension over the war they are fighting.
“The genesis of this project is actually an amazing story of Americana can-do spirit and support of our troops here and abroad,” says Grant. “It doesn’t matter whether you are Republican, Democrat, Independent or Undecided. I wrote United We Stand to be a song of brotherhood, love and unity – and it is this message we need to get out. This isn’t about politics – it’s about grass roots people to people message of American unity and we want to give everyone who wants to, an opportunity to participate. And what more appropriate place to hold the first concert than on the deck of the country’s most decorated battleship?”
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“To our knowledge, there has never been a project of support quite like this before,” says Lang, an author and former national television producer. “Imagine one of our soldiers receiving a CD with the song United We Stand! And on the cover there are thousands of people cheering him or her on. Now that’s a connection – and hopefully a morale booster. That’s what we’re going for!”
It Began with a Crisis & a Different War
The production of the CD “United We Stand!” has its roots in another time of turbulence in American history – the Spring and Summer of 1942. During this time of rationing, deprivation, and dissension about the war, a young publicist in the Hearst corporation conceived of the idea of putting the American Flag on the cover of all their magazines that summer to show solidarity. The idea was so well received, that the White
House ultimately issued a directive that all magazines in the Summer of 1942 should display the flag.
Fast-forward to 2001. Grant and Lang met California talk show host Peter Kreitler, who had collected more than 300 of the 1942 magazines for a book and exhibit at the Smithsonian. The idea for a documentary was born, Lang put the wheels in motion and Grant penned the song “United We Stand!” – a lovesong to the country written in the voice of the American flag. But the documentary was not to be. Despite high-profile
Hollywood participation, the events of Sept. 11th scared investors into dropping the project.
But the song has lived on. “There isn’t a single time that we’ve performed United We Stand that someone from the military hasn’t come up to me afterwards and said they were moved,” says Grant. “It made me want to share it with as many people as possible who could benefit from the message. And then we realized that the message does not have to be limited to just the troops.”
The Singer-Songwriter Has History of Giving
Grant is no stranger to utilizing his music for rescue work. Founder of the popular
touring band Primitive Soul (www.songcastmusic.com/profiles/alangrant) and singer with the nationally recognized Holiday Express (www.holidayexpress.org), he is both an accomplished guitarist and songwriter who has shared the stage with the likes of Rob Thomas, Jon Bon Jovi, Daryl Hall, Cyndi Lauper, Poco, Clarence Clemons and many other music industry giants.
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The Musical Director for the annual Stowe Weekend of Hope for Cancer Survivors, Grant has also donated time and free concerts to Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans, 9/11 Families in New Jersey, NYC’s Rally for The Cure (spinal cord research), Lyme disease, and the Matheny Hospital & Educational Center.
Turning Dollars Into Music
The United We Stand Foundation was established to produce and distribute as many thousands of CDs to members of the American Troops as possible while bringing the gift of music to their families – who are often left in disarray and financially strapped. “We are excited and proud to partner with Operation Shoebox New Jersey, which has an incredible record for getting thousands of packages sent to our troops throughout the
year,” says Lang. “Now we are turning to the public to show their support for our troops and their families.”
Tickets to the United We Stand Concert of May 30th can be purchased by contacting the Battleship New Jersey’s ticket office (866) 877-6262, Ext. 108, or by going to www.battleshipnewjersey.org.
For more information on the United We Stand project, please visit www.unitedwestandproject.org, or to arrange interviews or news coverage, please contact Denise Lang, Executive Director, at (866) 488-8600.
The Battleship New Jersey, our nation’s largest and most decorated battleship, is now a floating
museum on the Delaware River, along the Camden Waterfront across from the City of Philadelphia. Tours take place everyday beginning at 9 am with the last tour departing at 5 pm. The Battleship also offers special group and student rates, as well as facilities for meetings, conferences and social affairs. Now available: a commemorative photo program. Opening soon: a 4D flight simulator attraction. For more information, call 856-966-1652 or visit the Battleship at www.battleshipnewjersey.org.
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