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JULY 4TH WEEKEND EDITION
Here's hoping everybody had a great holiday weekend. And, hopefully, you've had some moments to contemplate the continuing miracle the founding of our nation was in 1776, through the war of Independence that won our freedom, the Civil War that preserved the Union and all the other wars we've fought to defend that simple idea written by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." No other government was ever founded on such simple, people-empowering principles.
This day also reminded us of a story we brought you recently regarding Master Sergeant Select, Chris Aguilera, the gunner on a rescue helicopter who was gravely injured when his chopper was shot down by two RPG rockets during a rescue mission in Afghanistan on June 9th killing 4 and injuring 3.
Chris was eventually taken to Brooke Army Medical Hospital in San Antonio, Texas and wife, Heather, has been with Chris since then, residing at the Fisher House (facility for wives and family of the severely wounded) near the hospital.
Chris suffered a lung punctured by a broken rib, pulmonary and cardial contusions, fractures of the sternum, pelvis, ribs and four vertebrae, and tail bone. Aguilera also received 3rd degree burns on one leg and the bottoms of his feet. He's had several skin graft surgeries to treat his burns and with any luck he'll fight off infection and some of his toes may not need to be amputated.
On June 30th, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, visited the wounded warriors at Brooke Army Medical Center and personally awarded Chris Aguilera a Purple Heart, given to those wounded by hostile fire in the line of duty. Chris had already been awarded the Bronze Star for bravery under fire during his first of 3 tours of duty in Afghanistan. His family says he never talks about the detail behind his Bronze Star, but he was treated like a hero by his compatriots when he returned to Nellis Air Force Base after that first tour.
They figure he won't likely talk much about his latest honor either, that's just the kind of man he is, says his family.
Chis is also the kind of guy who worries more right now about the pilot and co-pilot of his helicopter, who remain in comas.
Perhaps the motto of his his elite rescue squadron says it best for..."THESE THINGS WE DO SO OTHERS MAY LIVE."
WHERE DO YOU FIND SUCH PEOPLE?
Chris Aguilera's story, and the stories of other members of our military that have been deployed multiple times to Iran and Iraq, make us ask the question on our 234TH Independence Day, where do you find such people? Where do you find the men and women who re-up, or are willing to return to hostile duty time after time, knowing the odds of surviving without injury or death diminish with each deployment?
When I asked myself that question, the answer came quickly. It's because they're American's...citizens of a country they know is worth fighting for, citizens of a country full of people living our unique American Dream...
...they are the people that left bloody footprints from frozen feet in the snow of Valley Forge...who charged into hails of bullets on the beaches of Normandy and the Sands of Iwo Jima...they are...well you know who they are. They are the ordinary Americans willing to serve their country so that next year, on July 4th we can celebrate our 235TH National Birthday.
So, when you wonder where country singers might go to give back, heading to our overseas bases in or out of combat zones is great...but so, is taking care of the Wounded Warriors back home.
In facilities like Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. And all of us can check into the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) to see how easy it is to support our wounded military in a direct, personal way.
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BRAD PAISLEY'S "Water" is still swimming in first place as it remains at #1 this week...while;;
JASON ALDEAN's "Crazy Town"...also, marks time staying at #2..and
LUKE BRYAN's "Rain Is A Good Thing," makes a one notch move up to #3 as,
CLAY WALKER's "She Won't Be Lonely Long," climbs one to #4..with
MIRANDA LAMBERT's "The House That Built Me," slipping a couple to round out the Top 5 at #5.
CHESNEY WRAPS IT IN VEGAS
 cf.com
“There is a feeling you get when you know you've got it,” Chesney says of the eagerly anticipated record, his first true studio project since 2008's Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates. “We knew after the first weekend at the Joint, we wanted to broadcast live again - especially for all the fans who might not be able to afford to get to Vegas, because we're not getting to their towns this summer - but I also wanted to find a way to sort of all the music that led me to the point of this record.”
“Wrapping up my record made me think about all the songs I've sung, the music that's been made… and you know, you get into that place where you know there are songs people want to hear you just don't get to play. What better place to do something like that than the Joint? After all, it's really a loose show… without having to hit all the light cues and the video that's been shot.
“I mean, we've done a lot of video for this year, an especially cool piece for 'Live Those Songs Again' with a lot of classic Summer of Love concert posters. Bu tthere's also room to just play… and not feel like you're losing the momentum. The people it seems come to hear the band, the songs and maybe see a more relaxed night of music… I tell more stories. We pull stuff out of the crowd. It's a different vibe, but it's a really good one.”
With work on “The Boys of Fall,” Chesney's 18-month in the making documentary about high school football and its impact on the people who play it, also in its final stages, the man who took 2010 off from his stadium-sized summer tours is gearing up to get back to what he does best: releasing new music that takes on life the way he - and a whole lot of people just like him - lives it. Look for a new song July 12th and Hemingway's Whiskey, which people are saying deepens Chesney's already rich catalogue, Sept. 28 JEWEL CHOSEN BY CMT FOR AT&T-POWERED ‘POSTED’ FEATURE:
MTV Music Group this week announced that Sara Bareilles (VH1), Jewel (CMT) and We The Kings (MTV) will serve as the July artists for the launch of a new cross-platform digital franchise, “POSTED”. The digital program, presented by AT&T provides music fans with a singular destination to find social media updates, videos, news and photos of their favorite artists. Each month, CMT, MTV and VH1 spotlight its own artist. The franchise lives on each channel’s web and mobile properties as a space that connects artists directly with their fans in real time. As part of the program, each “POSTED” artist will be given a Motorola BACKFLIP™, AT&T’s first Android smartphone combining a revolutionary design with MOTOBLUR™, a unique service that delivers and organizes conversations, friends and favorite content from multiple sources directly to your phone in easy-to-manage streams.
JUSTIN MOORE LISTS 4th OF JULY AS HIS FAVORITE HOLIDAY
 cf.com
JIMMY WAYNE CROSSES INTO ARIZONA ON FINAL LEG OF ‘MEET ME HALFWAY’ WALK
When Jimmy Wayne left Nashville, Tenn. on foot January 1, he had no idea that his project Meet Me Halfway solo-walk across America would take as long as it has. But on Wednesday evening, June 30, the reality of the final steps closing in hit Jimmy as he crossed over the Arizona state line. "I have walked from Nashville to Arizona," Jimmy told The Boot in amazement as he stood at mile marker 0. "I still can't believe it, but knowing that I'm not only talking the talk, but also walking the walk for these teens makes it worth it day after day." Jimmy came up with the idea for Project Meet Me Halfway last December, while thinking of ways to help give back to those less fortunate. Jimmy himself was homeless as a teenager, bouncing around to 12 different schools over a two-year period. At age 16, he was taken in by the Costner family, who provided him a room with the stipulations that he would cut his hair and go to church. Jimmy stayed with the Costners for four years before heading to college, earning a degree in Criminal Justice. Not long after, he moved to Nashville to pursue country music. Throughout his career, Jimmy has always made a point to share his story and do whatever possible to help kids in the foster-care system. "No one should ever have a reason to say 'I'm bored' when there's so many youth that need our support," says the singer. Jimmy's final destination on this portion of his Meet Me Halfway trek is HomeBase Youth Services in Phoenix, Ariz. He expects to arrive there toward the end of July. To keep up with Jimmy on the remainder of his journey, follow him on Twitter. (The above item first appeared on AOL’s The Boot.) JARON’S ‘GETTING DRESSED IN THE DARK’ BECOMES HIGHEST-CHARTING DEBUT OF 2010 FROM A NEW ACT ON TOP COUNTRY ALBUMS CHART
Jaron And The Long Road To Love’s freshman album Getting Dressed In The Dark lands at #2 this week on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart selling nearly 24,000 copies in its first week, behind only supergroup Lady Antebellum’s smash ‘Need You Now’, ranking higher in its inaugural week on the Country albums tally than any other title this year from a new act. Jaron attributes the success to the relationship he has with his social media ‘frans’ [part fan/part friend] (the online army grew 700% last month to over 160,000 opt-in members to date). "I'm grateful to Country radio who have introduced me to so many wonderful new listeners.
FOR STEEL MAGNOLIA’S JOSH & MEGAN, 4th OF JULY CHANNELS SPECIAL MEMORIES Steel Magnolia’s Meghan Linsey and Joshua Scott Jones are spending this Independence Day weekend on the road performing on stage, but years back when the duo was growing up, the performance revolved around neighborhood barbeques and lots of fireworks! “Me and my brother, when we were little, we used to get excited to get to the fireworks stand and we would get as much as we could with whatever money we had,” recalls Meghan. “I guess I was kind of a tomboy, because I grew up in a neighborhood with all boys. There was not one girl for me to play with. I would chase them around begging them to play with me. I grew up in New Orleans and we lived on this cul-de-sac, this big circle, and we would have these big parties, the whole neighborhood in the street, and we’d all get together and light fireworks and hang out and barbecue and all that. That’s what I always think about when I think about the Fourth of July.” Josh has similar memories: “As a kid, I think it was such a magical time, in our small town in Illinois. All of us guys would ride our bikes around and cruise around. Everybody’s out, and it was just a real sense of unity in town. It reminds me of baseball with just great memories of growing up in the town. And as a boy, you can’t wait to tie as many firecrackers together and see what you can blow up, see what you can get away with. This weekend brings me a great sense of nostalgia.”
JACK INGRAM REFLECTS ON HIS OWN SONGWRITING MISSION; SONG ‘AMERICA’ HAS SPECIAL MEANING THIS WEEKEND
 cf.com
MELISSA PETERMAN SEES FIRST-HAND THE IMPACT HER FRIEND REBA HAS ON FANS Melissa Peterman is spending this summer working on material for her debut Big Machine comedy album and performing solo stand-up shows nationwide. The comedian and actress is also gearing up to return to the road this fall on the second leg of George Strait and Reba’s co-headlining arena tour. It was during the spring run of dates on the tour that Melissa say first-hand the impact her good friend Reba has on fans. “It’s a very big connection. There’s not a lot of artists when you walk away you feel like she really touched you,” says Melissa. “And so much of her music is the soundtrack to lives of people. Like ‘Is There Life Out There’, for example. She can perform a concert, and there’s ten women who will come up and say, ‘You’re the reason I went back to school, and now I’m a nurse.’ So, her music has spoken to a lot of people and stays with them.” Like Reba’s music, Melissa’s comedy is also making a mark on her growing legion of fans. To get your next Melissa fix, catch the premiere of a new episode of CMT’s #1-rated The Singing Bee on July 9th, which Melissa hosts.
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COUNTRY NEWS FOR FANS 
