Published:
Powerful 'Stay Strong' CD Sends a Message of Hope and Support for Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan
KAHULUI, Hawaii, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- "Stay Strong" is a moving,
forceful reminder to our servicemen and women that the nation respects and
reveres them and will not forget them when they return home. The song is
designed to raise awareness about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and to
raise money to build a state-of-the-art PTSD treatment facility inHawaii for
returning combat vets who served inIraq andAfghanistan. "Stay Strong" is
co-written by Keith Crosby, a decorated combat veteran who served inVietnam.
The featured vocalist is Charles Cook, a vet who served on active duty in
Afghanistan andIraq and toured at military bases as a member of "Tops in
Blue," a traveling USAF entertainment group comprised of soldiers.
"Stay Strong's" powerful message comes at a time when there are mounting
concerns that the incidence of traumatic brain injury is producing a high
number of cases of PTSD. According to the latest Pentagon estimates, tens of
thousands may develop debilitating long-term problems.
The $3.99 "Stay Strong" CD comes with a postcard that can be filled out
and returned to the song's executive producers at StayStrongNation.org. They
will distribute these messages of support to the soldiers, posting them in
mess halls and other places where the troops congregate. Consumers can order
the CD by going on the organization's website --
http://www.staystrongnation.org.
StayStrongNation.org has received a congratulatory letter from the White
House on behalf of President George W. Bush.
In addition, the proceeds from the CD sales will go to raise money for a
re-entry and PTSD treatment facility inHawaii. Expected to cost some $15
million, the center will provide soldiers returning from combat zones and
diagnosed with stress any necessary therapy within a relaxed environment,
along with their families.
The project is the vision of Keith Crosby and Gresford Lewishall,
president and vice president -- respectively -- of the music label Boo You
Back Productions, who have formed StayStrongNation.org and filed for a
501(c)(3) charitable status. This grassroots effort reflects their commitment
to the more than 1.65 million service members deployed toIraq orAfghanistan.
For these men, "Stay Strong" is a chance to make a real difference in the
lives of our combat veterans.
Though both have extensive connections to the music business, these
residents ofMaui describe themselves as just "regular guys." Crosby is a
maintenance worker and Lewishall, a tour bus operator. Crosby has been
composing for nearly 40 years and Lewishall has been involved in music
promotion since the 1990s.
Keith Crosby, the song's co-writer and co-executive producer and a
decorated vet who served active duty inVietnam, continues to suffer from
post-traumatic stress. He drew inspiration for the song from his own
experiences and explains, "I understand what soldiers are going through and I
believe they'll be able to really relate to the song's message. We want
service members who have been in combat areas and their families to understand
that the earlier they get whatever assistance they need, the better off
they'll be."
Charles Cook, one of the song's lead vocalists, toured for 8 years in
Afghanistan,Iraq andIran. His long career in the U.S. Air Force offered him
the opportunity to audition for the "Tops in Blue," a traveling USAF
entertainment group and he was invited to join the team in 2003. His tour
began at the start of Military Operations "Enduring Freedom" (the war on
Afghanistan) and "Iraqi Freedom" and took him intoBaghdad,Kosovo,Bosnia and
Cuba, delivering a message of hope and encouragement that he felt the soldiers
so desperately needed.
An April 2008 Rand Corporation study noted that 20 percent of veterans who
served in eitherIraq orAfghanistan reported signs of major depression or
stress disorder. According to the survey, many service members said they do
not seek treatment for psychological illnesses because they fear it will harm
their careers.
The PTSD treatment facility inHawaii that StayStrongNation.org is raising
money for will not only allow returning soldiers to receive treatment from
medical professionals, but also to take advantage, along with their families,
of an idyllic retreat and such amenities as tennis and basketball courts,
whale watching, parasailing, jet skiing, musical programs and a computer
center.
"Stay Strong" was written by Crosby along with Michael Lietz (aka Bishop).
It was produced, recorded and mixed by Robbeatz with music by DeVon Johnson.
L.A. Keith Crosby and Gresford Lewishall are the executive producers. The
soundtrack also features vocalist Amber Riley.
StayStrongNation.org has also forged an alliance with another non-profit
formed by returning war veterans called "Wounded Warrior Mentor Program,"
whose mandate is to provide unique programs and services to meet their needs
including helping them to find jobs. Sgt. Melissa Cramblett is one of the
members of "Wounded Warrior Mentor Program"
(http://www.wpwoundedwarriormentorprogram.com) who served combat duty on the
frontlines inIraq, and among her injuries she suffers from PTSD. Cramblett,
along with the Stay Strong founders, is on a mission to help returning vets.
Contact: Cindy Rakowitz at (818) 783-3307 or Diane Blackman at
(212) 989-3646
This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information,
visit http://www.ereleases.com.
SOURCE StayStrongNation.org
Copyright © 2008, PRNewswire
Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze,
Daily NewsTags: ,ARO,MUS,ENT,HEA,VET,NPT,HI-StayStrongNation
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