Sweet music goes out to troops

By Drew Lyon
The Free Press

MANKATO February 27, 2007 12:40 am

— It was 4:30 a.m. Tuesday morning in Iraq, but Minnesota troops were able, via a live television feed, to talk with family members and watch a concert performed Monday by the Mankato Symphony Orchestra at the Minnesota National Guard Training and Community Center.
“Can you hear us?” Minnesota Symphony Orchestra Musical Director Kenneth Freed asked into the television before beginning the hour-long concert, which brought around 80 people to the National Guard gymnasium.
The soldiers watched the concert from the Freedom Call Center in Iraq, which allows troops video access to friends and family.
“It’s so strange to see people clapping from halfway across the world,” Freed said. “They were into it the whole time.”
Freed said he was inspired to play a free concert for the soldiers’ families after listening to Minnesota Rep. John Kline, who has a son in Iraq, grill U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on the toll war the war has taken on soldiers’ families.
“One of our goals is to be outward-looking as an organization,,” said Freed, whose orchestra was augmented by the guest appearances of members of the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra. “I was in the car listening to Rep. Kline roasting (Defense Secretary) Robert Gates on the radio, and I thought, “These families have been through so much, how can we as an organization and musicians be of service to the troops’ families?’”
Barb Fleming’s son, Capt. Jesse Fleming of Garden City, was one of the soldier’s watching the concert.
Throughout the concert, Jesse’s beaming mom often turned around to look at her son on the television screen.
Barb Fleming, who along with her daughter and husband, Lewie, talked to Jesse on television for 45 minutes before the concert, said it was thrilling to see her son for the first time since he left in September for his second tour of duty.
Darlene Langevin, whose daughter, Staff Sgt. Tamatha Smith is in her third tour of duty in Iraq, said many soliders’ families aren’t aware they have other communication options with their loved ones outside of telephone and e-mail.
“I am surprised by the number of people who don’t realize this is available,” said Langevin, “because the word just doesn’t get out.”
Langevin said families interested in a live-feed with a solider need to contact the soldier’s troop, which will contact the Freedom Call Center, where the live-feeds are held.
The concert underscored the limitless power of music, Freed said, and helped to provide solace and for both the troops and their families.
“These families have been through so much,” he sad. “It was an emotional feeling,” “Music provides healing and comfort. I thought we got the point across.”

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