Singer brings joy to soldiers during holiday season

19th Public Affairs Detachment
Story by Sgt. Adam Keith

Date: 12.10.2013
Posted: 12.13.2013 07:54
News ID: 118178
Singer brings joy to soldiers during holiday season

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - Country music artist Alaina Blair performed a Christmas show for deployed service members, including Major Gen. Kurt J. Stein, commanding general of the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), Dec. 10 on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

Blair, a southern California native, said this was her first time visiting service members and this was her first trip overseas to perform.

“Some really close family friends are involved in the military; a lot of them have served or are currently serving,” said Blair. “Since we’ve been friends with them they have always encouraged us to go play for the military, and we thought that would be awesome.”
Blair said that coming around the holidays made the trip even more special.

“There are men and women here who don’t get to go home for Christmas and who don’t get to be with their families around the holidays and it’s hard, so this is our little way of being able to bring a piece of home and we feel very honored to have the opportunity to do that.”

Sgt. Angie M. May, an ammunition specialist with the 371st Sustainment Brigade, said she enjoyed the show, especially because she was feeling down about being away from home during the holidays.

“This is a big morale booster because around Christmas time everyone gets a little home sick,” she said. “I’ve been missing home lately but having her come in allowed me to get out, and it put a smile on my face.”

2nd Lt. Byron G. Adams, plans officer and battle captain with Army Support Group Kuwait, said he agreed that events like these are needed, especially around this time of year.

“I would say everyone here gets lonely at some point during the Christmas season, they miss their families, the gift giving, as well as all of the other normal traditions that they have,” he said. “Concerts like these allow us to have an evening to just relax and remember what it’s like back home.”

Byron said that this was his first concert while deployed and he was impressed with the experience and looked forward to attending others in the future.

Blair said she has learned a lot on her tour so far and that she is soaking up as much of the experience as she can.

“It’s very eye opening to go on all of the different bases and learn what everyone does,” said Blair. “You think you know what Soldiers do but you come out and you really learn so much. I just feel so blessed to have had this opportunity.”

“It’s been amazing. We would definitely want to do something like this again,” she added.

Blair said she would like to tell every service member thank you.
“It’s cliché and it’s been said a million times but it will never be said enough because they do so much,” she said. “It’s because of them that we get to have a great life.”