{"id":2659,"date":"2016-09-26T08:17:06","date_gmt":"2016-09-26T13:17:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/pressrelease\/?p=2659"},"modified":"2016-09-26T08:17:06","modified_gmt":"2016-09-26T13:17:06","slug":"exchange-pizza-hut-give-back-to-camp-foster-with-free-concert-by-the-band-perry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/pressrelease\/?p=2659","title":{"rendered":"Exchange, Pizza Hut Give Back To Camp Foster With Free Concert By The Band Perry"},"content":{"rendered":"

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA \u2013 <\/strong>For Staff Sgt. Matthew Wee, spending time at a free concert by The Band Perry brought him a little slice of America on a warm evening on Okinawa.<\/p>\n

The Marine, who\u2019s stationed at Kadena Air Base, and his friends were among thousands of who attended a free show<\/a> by Grammy-nominated The Band Perry<\/a> at the Futenma Flightline Fair. The sibling trio\u2014Kimberly, Reid and Neil Perry\u2014played a free concert Sept. 24 for service members, their families and the Okinawa community. The concert was Camp Foster\u2019s prize for winning the Army & Air Force Exchange Service\u2019s and Pizza Hut\u2019s Wingapalooza contest earlier this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s amazing,\u201d Wee said of the free concert. \u201cIt\u2019s a good opportunity for the different service members and the Japanese to come together on base. This brings a piece of home to Marines, Sailors and other service members here.\u201d<\/p>\n

To kick off the show, Exchange Pacific Commander Col. Scott Maskery addressed the crowd, thanking them for being part of a special night and expressing his gratitude for Pizza Hut and Marine Corps Community Services, which hosted the band as part of its fair.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a privilege to give back to service members and families\u2014to take care of them when they\u2019re far from home,\u201d Maskery said.<\/p>\n

Members of The Band Perry, making their first trip to the Pacific, were eager to play for the troops.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis show tonight is important,\u201d Kimberly Perry said. \u201cWe\u2019re bringing a little bit of home to the soil here in Okinawa for our servicemen and women. There\u2019s a lot of love coming off the stage tonight. We are so honored to bring a little bit of home over here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hours before the concert, the band signed autographs and handed out swag to fans at the Camp Foster Exchange<\/a>. Hundreds of fans began lining up nearly two hours before the meet-and-greet to make sure they got to spend a few moments with the trio.<\/p>\n

Charla Jo Williams, whose husband, Dennis, has served in the Marines for 24 years, was the first in line.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is huge,\u201d Williams said. \u201cI\u2019ve been here three years\u2014we\u2019ve never had anything like this here before.\u201d<\/p>\n

In line behind Williams, Amber Wood and her 9-year-old daughter, Kylie<\/a>, were patiently awaiting their turn with the band. Wood\u2019s husband, Terry, has been serving in the Army at Kadena since the end of April.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is such a small island, and our entertainment is limited,\u201d Wood said. \u201cIt\u2019s a big deal to have this band here for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marine Sgt. Daniel Burrell and his wife, Abby<\/a>, were among a few lucky fans who got to meet the band backstage before the show.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s nice of the band to come here and do this for us,\u201d Abby said. \u201cIt feels more like we\u2019re home\u2026like America.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Band Perry spent the weekend getting to know more about the service members on Okinawa. The night before the show, they made a surprise delivery\u2014a large Pizza Hut cheese pie and wings (for Wingapalooza, of course) to a Marine who had called in a dinner order. The day of the show, Marines showed the band an Osprey and other aircraft on the Futenma flightline, talking to the trio about their own roles in serving America.<\/p>\n

The Exchange and Pizza Hut teamed up to bring the band to Okinawa. During May and June, Camp Foster\u2019s \u201cThe Spot\u201d Pizza Hut sold more orders of wings\u20148,829\u2014than any military installation in the Pacific, earning a free concert for the community. In all, more than 700,000 wings were consumed during the Wingapalooza contest at military installations across the Pacific.<\/p>\n

— 30 —<\/p>\n

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service goes where Soldiers, Airmen and their families go to improve the quality of their lives through goods and services provided. Exchange earnings provide dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs. The Exchange is part of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors, responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force through the Chiefs of Staff.\u00a0 To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http:\/\/www.aafes.com\/about-exchange\/public-affairs\/press-releases.htm<\/a> or follow us on Twitter at https:\/\/twitter.com\/ExchangePAO<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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