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Nashville area soldier, Sgt. Kevin Downs, was severely wounded in combat while serving in Iraq in August of 2005 in an attack on the humvee that he and three brother soldiers from the National Guard unit, the 278th Regimental Combat Team, were in. Sgt. Downs was blown from the gunner’s hatch and found lying in a ditch. The other three men were killed. According to LTC Miles T. Smith, “In the urgency and chaos of the situation, he [Kevin] remained calm enough to check the details we were forgetting. He [Kevin] smiled through his burned and cracked skin as we carried him into the medic bunker and said in a jovial voice, “Hi, what brings you guys here?” His ability to deal with the horrific events of that night made me extremely proud and humble.” After every doctor was sure he would not make it, Kevin miraculously survived, but his injuries were devastating. He received burns to over 60% of his outer body and was burned internally in his lungs and throat. Kevin lost both legs from just below the knee, his right hand has been reduced to a few working mangled fingers and he has nearly lost his left arm, which is completely unusable, but they are still trying to reconstruct and save it. He has been at Brooke Army Medical Center [BAMC] in San Antonio, TX since a short time after he was wounded, where he remains today. Despite his own devastating condition, Kevin is known by his superiors and hospital staff as the unofficial cheerleader of the amputee and burn unit. Going around the unit giving the thumbs up from his wheelchair and gestures like making sure visitors are aware not to spend too much time with him because "another soldier downstairs just lost a leg and really needs some encouragement", only compound Kevin's heroism. Kevin grew up in the community just outside of Nashville, in Kingston Springs, TN, where he played football and graduated from Harpeth High School. He has become a local hero and the residents of this area have followed his story weekly in the local newspaper. He was named the Grand Marshall of the Pegram 4th of July parade, but was unable to attend due to his injuries. When he DID manage to make it home the following week, the whole community came out at a moments notice and shut down mainstreet for his very own parade after his police escort from the Nashville airport. Kevin needs and deserves a home where he can care for himself, get around safely, perhaps even earn a living. His neighbors and friends are committed to getting that done for him. It will require a massive volunteer effort, and of course lots of monetary donations. We are planning fundraising events along the way to help pay for what we cannot get donated. To help reach our goal, we have called upon a few of the industry's most talented artists that might be willing to donate their time for a benefit concert/event called "Home for a Hero" to benefit Sgt. Kevin Downs and honor the TN National Guard and all United States Armed Forcses. in which he served. If it were to become great enough, it might even become an event in the future to benefit other disabled young soldiers in our area, as well. If you would like to read more about the journey of Sgt. Kevin Downs, following his courage and insatiable positive attitude, please visit the web site of the South Cheatham Advocate at www.scadvocate.com which has been receiving nearly 1 million hits a week since Kevin's story has spread around the world. Below is the link to a recent Channel 4 news story about a very small, impromptu fundraiser that was done back in November of 2006. It was the great success of such a small venture that prompted the idea to do this on a larger scale! Lonestar graciously agreed to headline this concert event on Tuesday, July 17, 2007, at Greer Stadium. Storme Warren from G.A.C. TV emceed the event and G.A.C. promoted and covered the event on national television. The event turned out to be a wonderful success. 
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