By Chris Basinger, Staff Writer
TRUSSVILLE, Ala.–Veterans and community members are invited to attend a free concert at the Trussville Entertainment District on the anniversary of 9/11 next Wednesday that seeks to raise money to honor a victim of the attacks.
The “Take the Day Back” concert will feature Elvis and Aretha Franklin tribute artists Rob Langford and Kimberly Harmon and is being put on to honor the legacy and life of Army Maj. Dwayne Williams, who was killed in the attack on the Pentagon.
Langford, who had been mentored by Dwayne, approached his brother Roy Williams with the idea of holding the concert in celebration of his life.
“Our purpose is to celebrate the way he lived instead of the way he died,” Roy said.
“I’ve been dealing with sadness, depression, and dread every September 11th because it’s a day that none of us can escape, all of the media, reliving it every year, but for the first time I’m actually looking forward to it because we’re gonna be honoring the way Dwayne lived and celebrating his life.”
Roy also said that they will be raising money at the event to fund the creation of a bronze bust of Dwayne at the Alabama Fallen Warrior Monument in Trussville, which honors the 227 Alabama military service members that made the ultimate sacrifice during the Global War on Terror.
In addition to the bronze bust, which will cost about $12,000, any additional funds raised will go toward the ROTC scholarship in Dwayne’s memory at Jacksonville State University, where he and Roy both graduated from.
They are also still accepting sponsors for the event, which will open with a word of prayer and remarks from members of the American Legion Post 205.
“My hope is that people will use this as an opportunity to come together, unite, put aside differences over politics, put aside differences over race, and do like we did after 9/11,” Roy said.
“Unite as one country under the colors of red, white, and blue. My hope is that in doing this celebration of life we will show those terrorists that they failed in their efforts to break our spirits.”
The concert will begin at 6 p.m. and is being presented in partnership with Elvis Rob Productions, the American Legion, Trussville Veterans Committee Chairman Chad Carroll, and Ferus Artisan Ales.
Williams and Langford also appeared on Tribune Unscripted on Thursday to discuss the event.
