Country music star Wynonna Judd wore her staunch patriotism on fringed sleeves in a USO Pentagon concert broadcast through military channels to Soldiers and other service members outside of the area. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld introduced Judd to the stage, calling her a "proud patriot" and "loyal friend" of the U.S. military who has been entertaining troops with the USO since 1987. She has visited injured Soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, some of whom had front row seats for the concert, and made repeat visits to Fort Campbell in her home state of Kentucky to sing and welcome Soldiers home. Marine Corps Gen. Pete Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, echoed Rumsfeld's comments. "She does a lot of things for the military that she doesn't want us to talk about publicly," Pace said. "These are things that if we could tell you about, they would tug at your heart." "I homeschool my children and everywhere we travel, I try to talk to them about how privileged we are to live in this country,'' Judd said. "We live in the greatest country in the world. I appreciate that you all keep me free." Judd toured the Army Operations Center in the Pentagon a week earlier on May 13 with her mother and sister, actress Ashley Judd. She performed at the White House later that day. Several hundred Soldiers, civilian workers and family members crowded into the Pentagon courtyard for the show, which ended with Judd saluting and urging all to "keep the faith." "I don't know about you, but I'm getting tired of CNN," Judd said. "We need to turn it off and step into faith and hope."

Back to photo index.