Salute the Heroes, an all-day concert event in downtown Conway's Simon Park Saturday, raised money to be used to send care packages to U.S. troops overseas and support the local National Guard Family Readiness Group.
Tina and Jeremy Scaggs, owners of Conway business Scaggs Scrap Hauling, organized Salute the Heroes. Tina Scaggs said it's something she's been trying to put together for three years, with varying degrees of success.
"I have a lot of friends who are serving in the military," Scaggs said. "They really want a way to see their families and have their families see them."
Accordingly, the cost of admission was one web cam for two adults or $10 per person. A web cam, which allows its user to send real-time video and audio over the internet, can be purchased for under $20 these days, but to a soldier, airman or sailor who's far from home, Scaggs said, they're priceless.
"We tried this three years ago in Little Rock," she said. The look on her face indicated that it wasn't a runaway success, but her hopes were higher when she re-focused her energies on a Conway event.
"Conway's a much better town, as far as putting something like this together," she said. "They'll really help you out."
Of the 11 bands and various vendors booked for the event, none asked for compensation.
One of the only expenses was the standard $20 fee to rent Simon Park. Turnout early Saturday afternoon was lighter than she could have hoped for, but attendance picked up in the evening as the music drew downtown visitors to the park and the cause. The generosity of those who dropped by, she said, went a long way towards making up for the lighter-than-hoped-for turnout.
Master Sgt. Vince Sherrill, a member of the Army National Guard's professional bass angling team, also donated his time to the event, answering questions about the National Guard as well as giving fishing tips.
Sherrill, who's served 21-years in the military so far, said he fished competitively in amateur events for years before joining the National Guard team. When he had '1-800 G0-Guard' decals put on his boat, he said, his fishing career "took off."
Now he's got several major sponsorships, including a deal with Triton Boats that includes a brand-new 70-plus-mph tournament-spec bass boat every year. Without the generosity of sponsors, he jokingly agreed, professional fishing shares the old motor racing adage that the best way to make a small fortune in the sport is to start with a large one.
On decals applied to both sides of his boat's engine are the names of 22 Arkansas guardsmen who have lost their lives serving their country in the war on terror. There's no one, he said, that he'd rather be fishing for.
Sponsors for the event included Scaggs Scrap Hauling, Pepsi, the Conway School of Music, DeBoard Electronics, Bear's Den BBQ, Music Man Entertainment and Y107. Booked musicians included Shanna McCormack, John Alumbaugh, Annabelle, Enemies in a Maze, Hollywood Homicide, Pride Before the Fall, Fire and Brimstone, Double Shot, Some Guy Named Rob, Solstice and Method of Doubt.
(Staff writer Joe Lamb can be reached by e-mail at joe.lamb@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1238. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
