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Mark Chesnutt, Jason Michael Carroll to headline Operation Cherrybend to honor wounded veterans

The News Journal - 5/7/2018

WILMINGTON – R+L Carriers, the Flight Deck Veterans Group and Cherrybend Pheasant Farm are proud to announce tickets are on sale for the 2018 Operation Cherrybend concert featuring CMA Award-winning country music artist Mark Chesnutt at the Murphy Theatre on Sept. 15.

The mission of Operation Cherrybend’s annual concert is to honor and thank our nation’s wounded veterans, and to spread awareness about veterans’ issues. Tickets are available at operationcherrybend.org.

Chesnutt is famous for chart-topping country songs such as “It’s a Little Too Late” and “Bubba Shot the Jukebox.”

The concert will also feature country music hit-maker and Marine Corps veteran Jason Michael Carroll, whose hit songs include “Alyssa Lies, “Livin’ Our Love Song,” and “I Can Sleep When I’m Dead.”

Jared Ashley, U.S. Navy veteran and country singer-songwriter, will open for both Nashville stars.

“We are very excited by the outpouring of support for this event! It’s a joy to work together honoring our veterans and providing a platform for support and celebration,” said Beth Ellis, co-founder of Operation Cherrybend.

Operation Cherrybend’s annual concert will kick off with an in-the-round acoustic jam session featuring country music songwriters from Nashville, hosted by WWE superstar Ted DiBiase Jr.

“We are humbled to have the opportunity to support community programs and partnerships that benefit U.S. military service members, veterans and their families before, during and after service,” said Greg Bronner, VP of Marketing at R+L Carriers.

“We are proud to be the Premier Sponsor for Operation Cherrybend, and to have an opportunity to support and educate the public about the trials and challenges of our service members.”

Leading up to last year’s Operation Cherrybend concert, veterans from across the nation enjoyed a relaxing weekend of healing and camaraderie at Cherrybend Pheasant Farm. Veterans participated in a paintball war, clay shooting competition, skydiving excursion, fishing tournament at the Melvin Stone quarry and a pheasant hunt.

Eighth-graders from Wilmington Middle School also received a surprise visit from veterans, including Harold Overstreet, the 12th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, and Sal Gonzalez, a Marine Corps veteran who performed on America’s Got Talent.

Operation Cherrybend was founded in 2015 by recording artist and Navy veteran Jared Ashley and the Ellis Family, owners of Cherrybend Pheasant farm, a 640-acre hunting preserve.

In 2017, Operation Cherrybend sponsors also sent combat-wounded Marine veteran, Patrick Meyer, to Dallas, Texas to participate in Dave Vobra’s Adaptive Training program.

To learn more about Operation Cherrybend’s dedication to serving our country’s heroes, visit www.operationcherrybend.org