TYLER (TYLER MORNING TELEGRAPH) - It's important to Linda Rudd that soldiers know they have the community's support when they return from war.
"We are their support — they are fighting for us," she said Monday.
In many cases, the Vietnam veterans were not given a proper welcome home, Ms. Rudd said. She also saw how the war changed her high school classmates.
"I went to high school with many of the young men in South Texas and saw they were not the same when they returned," Ms. Rudd, a native Tylerite, said.
Those are some of the reasons her company is helping sponsor the Oct. 5 event and concert, "Welcome Home: A Tribute to Vietnam Vets" in Tyler.
The event takes place at Villa di Felicita the night before this year's annual Country for our Country benefit concert at the same location. The Vietnam veterans concert will feature food and drink; the traveling Vietnam Wall; live music by Kayla Conn featuring Nick Verzosa and the Noble Union Band; Miranda Lambert's father, Rick Lambert; and a word from Maj. Gen. Red Brown. Tickets for the Friday event are $50.
Ms. Rudd, who owns Striping Technology in Tyler, and Steve Hellmuth, who works with her, will present a $10,000 sponsorship check on Oct.5.
Proceeds will benefit the Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home in Tyler.
The Country for Our Country concert is Oct. 6 and will feature Rodney Atkins, recipient of the Academy of Country Music's Top New Male Vocalist Award in 2006.
He has multiple awards multiple No. 1 hits, including "If you're going through hell (Before the Devil Even Knows)" and "It's America."
The Saturday concert also includes Derek Sholl and Heidi Newfield, as well as newcomers Wayland Hicks & The Backroad Travelers, Jaida Dreyer and Storme Warren.
For the past three years, Mary and Paul Pennington, who own Villa di Felicita, have raised money through Country for Our Country to benefit soldiers returning from tours of duty and have difficulty reintegrating into civilian life.
Tickets to the Oct. 6 event are $2,000 per table of 10, or $200 individually. Over the last three events, Ms. Pennington said they have raised more than $260,000 to purchase books, computers or help soldiers finish their education.
Ms. Rudd said 100 percent of the proceeds from both events go to local veterans' charities, which benefit local veterans and their families. Past concerts have raised money for artificial limbs for soldiers, special clothing for those veterans with artificial limbs and educational opportunities.
This year, proceeds from the Country for our Country concert will go toward funding five $10,000 scholarships to Tyler Junior College, The University of Texas at Tyler, Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas College and Texas A&M University.
For additional information, contact Villa di Felicita at 903-597-0002 or visit
www.countryforourcountry.org
