By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — The fifth Southern Tier Wounded Warrior Concert at Bradner Stadium July 20 was deemed a success earlier this week by host Col. Patrick Miller.
Although no final decisions have been made, the success of the concert bodes well for the chances that next year’s fundraising concert will again be held at the stadium, Miller indicated in an interview with the Olean Star.
“It was great,” Miller said of the concert headlined by country star Tyler Farr. More than 1,000 tickets were sold.
It was a more diverse show this year, with Buffalo singer/songwriter Ade Adu, Derek St. Holmes, lead guitarist for Ted Nugent, and The Hootz, a last minute stand-in for Harper Grace, a Dallas native and American Idol alum, who was stranded in Nashville due to an airline computer snafu.
Miller’s volunteer staff learned Friday that Grace would be unable to get to Olean in time for the Wounded Warrior show at Bradner.
By chance, the Hootz, Luke and Angela Marino, who have local roots, were performing the night before the Wounded Warrior concert at House’s Parkwood Tavern in Olean, where Miller had planned to stop by.
“I asked them if they were busy Saturday and if they’d like to play at the concert,” Miller said. The Hootz were among the bands that played at the first Southern Tier Wounded Warrior Concert, he said.
“We were glad to see them and their faithful following,” Miller said of The Hootz.
In short remarks before Farr’s set, Miller said, “This community is a team — like the Army. We rally around our own. We rally around our wounded warriors.” When he asked veterans in the audience to stand, half the crowd stood up.
Miller also asked for a moment of silence for Kelsey Shay, the 20-year-old Allegany resident who recently lost their battle with cancer. Miller is an Allegany native. He also brought his eight-year-old daughter Harper onto the stage.
“I walked around the stadium much of the day thanking as many people as I could,” Miller said.
Miller said bills are still being paid and the profits from this year’s Southern Tier Wounded Warrior concert won’t be know for a few weeks.
Proceeds from the concert will be divided between Fisher House at Fort Hood, Homes For Our Troops, WNY Heroes and the St. Bonaventure University Veterans Service Program.
Miller was seriously wounded 10 years ago in the shooting at Fort Hood, Texas that wounded 15 others, killing three soldiers and the gunman. He is stationed at Defense Health Headquarters in Falls Church, Va.
Miller credits his legion of local volunteers for the success of the Wounded Warrior concerts.
