To mark the closing ceremony of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall in Greene County, a concert was performed Sunday, Oct. 2 at Waynesburg Central High School.

Gary Racan and his wife, Kim, founded “Warriors Rock in Concert” four years ago. For the past several years, “Gary Racan and the Studio-E Band” have traveled to different areas to perform patriotic sets for military veterans.

Sunday’s concert was put on to honor Greene County veterans, many of whom served in the Vietnam War. Nine veterans were featured in video messages that led into songs of their requests. At the end of each video package, the soldiers featured mentioned a song from that time that related to their experience in the war. The performance was split into two sets, with a short intermission in between.

Sunday was the second time that the Studio-E band has been to Waynesburg. Kim Racan, who co-founded “Studio E Entertainment LLC.,” was thrilled with the experience.

“I think [Waynesburg] is a wonderful community,” Kim Racan said. “They bond together for things. To not have the financial advantages of a big city, and to do what they just did just bringing the support of the community, I think it’s overwhelming. I think that’s what so great about ‘small town USA.’”

Gary Racan sang lead and first tenor for the Vogues, who are from Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, from 1983 to 1986. In 2001, he was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. He was pleased with how the concert went.

“I think it’s awesome,” Gary Racan said. “We had a nice turnout today. It’s so much fun to bring back the patriotism in everybody, and the excitement we see in everybody. They leave here so inspired about being a true patriot and loving our country and our veterans.”

The event concluded with every veteran in attendance being invited to come up to the stage, while others waved mini American flags.

For Gary Racan, the most important thing is recognizing and respecting the veterans in attendance.

“The veterans seemed so inspired,” Gary Racan said. “Especially after the concert, they were shaking our hands. Some of them had tears in their eyes because a lot of our veterans don’t get the respect that they deserve… they’re not used to that, and they’re just so very touched by that.”

The Master of Ceremonies for the show was Rod Shrower, who served two tours of duty in Vietnam in 1967 to 1968 and 1970 to 1971. Shrower was the first person to speak at the event. As a veteran, the concert struck a chord.

“Doing things for veterans, we have emotional ties, especially combat veterans,” Shrower said. “When you see your brothers suffering on the battlefield, and in some cases dying on the battlefield, it brings back memories that you’d like to forget, but you can’t forget. Being choked up, I would say, it comes from the heart. Not only me but all the veterans in this place. It comes from the heart, our emotions, they are our brothers and sisters in the military, serving in more time, and there are no greater patriots than our men and women in uniform.”

In addition to two trips to Waynesburg, Warriors Rock appeared at Connellsville Area High School last November. Linda Shearer is the founder of the Connellsville Area High School Patriots, which is a volunteer group to support deployed troops, as well as veterans.

For Shearer, Warriors Rock was a positive experience for veterans and civilians.

“This is an opportunity for people who are non-military like myself to share what our veterans have experienced, and to say, ‘Thank God for them, their service and this country,'” Shearer said.