Brantley Gilbert Salutes Soldiers

One year ago, Brantley Gilbert was in Arlington National Cemetery.  The day was the climax of a motorcycle rally, From Athens To Arlington, and the launch of his latest album.  The rally was a benefit for the military charity Folds Of Honor, and Brantley presented a scholarship to the daughter of a fallen soldier.  He told Country Countdown USA’s Lon Helton it was a life changing experience: “The more the ride carried on, it transformed from being about my record to being about Folds of Honor.  We came face to face with the cost of freedom.  It took on a whole new life, and you saw how appreciative these people were.  When we got to Arlington, it was just overwhelming.  We got to see the guard change at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  It was awesome to watch.  Then we did a wreath-laying ceremony for the family that we gave the scholarship to that day.  Then we walked to the grave of the girl’s father who’s getting the scholarship, there were veterans who made some speeches, and then they asked me to talk.  I never felt more out of place.  I just realized how small you are.  You’re looking at graves, people buried on both sides, and you see the definition of freedom not being free.”

Since that day, Brantley has continued to support veterans charities.  He often wears a shirt with the letters “WWP” for the Wounded Warrior Project.  He did another benefit ride for them last week.  And his current single, “One Hell of an Amen,” begins with the lines:

Preacher said he died too young
Over there totin’ that gun
For Uncle Sam and our freedom
Mom and Daddy dressed in black
They folded up that flag
Handed it dad, and started prayin’
Yeah he went out twenty one guns blazin’:

The Platinum Edition of Brantley’s album “Just As I Am” was released this week.  It contains a total of 19 songs including a remix of his #1 hit “Bottom’s Up.”

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