"This is great and at a very appropriate time," said Meriden resident Joyce Majeski. "With all the struggles the world has gone through, all the men and women we have lost to war in the last decade, this kind of patriotic opportunity means a lot."
Staff Sgt. Eric Spinelli, the band's tour manager, said this is the reaction he hoped the show would draw from the audience. Although the concert is done for entertainment, he said the band from Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts also hopes to deliver a message of patriotism.
Over the past 12 days, the band has made 11 stops throughout the Northeast. Spinelli said the band has tried to use this tour to provide a face for the Air Force and to help Americans realize that even during the holiday, soldiers remain in war zones.
For the band members, the show is about entertainment. Master Sgt. Paul Del Greco, a pianist and a resident of Enfield, said many of the members perform for the love of music and because it makes others smile.
"Every day we go to work is an act of patriotism," said Del Greco, who has served 26 years in the Air Force. "We want them to have a love for their country, but we also want them to be able to escape the tough challenges of life for a moment and just have a good time."
Del Greco and Julie Rees, one of the three civilian members of the American Belles, said they take the stage with one thing in mind; the audience. Rees said she became a performer to give back to her audience, which usually consists primarily of veterans and wounded soldiers.
These performances are just what the doctor ordered for soldiers such as Maj. Kim Rolstone of the Connecticut National Guard. Rolstone recently returned home to Meriden from active duty in Afghanistan, and his daughter Emily is currently serving as a Connecticut National Guard specialist in Iraq.
"I came to support these guys and everything they do for our military and our country," he said. "To see this kind of turnout is good for them and I think the show is a morale booster for everyone."
With a turnout that surpassed expectations, city Recreation Supervisor Christian Bourdon said he was very happy with the way the performance came together. Bourdon said the show provided great exposure for the city's parks and provided a safe, fun summer activity for residents.
Sunday's performance also allowed volunteers from Praline's Ice Cream to raise hundreds of dollars for Noah's Ark of Hope, a nonprofit organization that aims to provide safe playgrounds.
"This was something we felt needed to be done," said Donna Torre, owner of Praline's. "This is a way for us to help everyone beat the heat and all the proceeds go directly to providing a safer environment for our children."
jvallee@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225
