June 26, 2012
By Lance Cpl. Cory D. Polom, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. — More than 70 Marines traveled to the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., for a free country concert featuring Nashville icons Kenney Chesney and Tim McGraw June 24, complements of the Carolina Panthers organization.
It started when Jen Krivohlavy, the Single Marine Program coordinator for Cherry Point, received a phone call from a representative of the United Services Organization of North Carolina early last week informing her the USO chose the Cherry Point SMP to receive up to 100 free tickets for the concert, provided by the National Football League team.
SMP coordinators arranged two charter busses to transport the Marines to and from the concert.
“It’s nice to take part in the SMP trips and other events without having to spend a lot of money or scramble for a ride just to do something fun,” said Pfc. Victoria E. Cook, a videographer with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2.
After observing the Marines dancing and singing, Krivohlavy said, “Its days like this that gives me a pride in my job.”
Cook said spending time with friends at a music concert made her feel a little like she was back home in St. Johns, Mich. She’s glad to have an outlet to spend time with her new friends the way she did back home.
The 2012 “Brothers of the Sun Tour” also featured country music star Jake Owen and rock band Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.
The artists performed hits to include “Boys of Fall,” by Chesney; “Better than I Used to be,” by McGraw; and “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” by Jake Owen. Next up for the SMP a military appreciation concert in Morehead City, N.C., July 6 to see the Band of Oz.