Veteran rock band Third Day started 2008 off on a positive patriotic note with visits to members of the armed forces, both here in the U.S. and the Middle East.

The entire band traveled to Kuwait and Iraq in mid-January to meet and perform with servicemen and women at several bases in the area. No, the previous sentence is not awkwardly constructed, as the band invited several members of the audience to perform with the band during its show at Contingency Operating Base Speicher (pronounced “spiker” ) outside Tikrit in Iraq.

Sgt. Chad E. “Sticks” Cooke, of Company D, 2-1 GSAB, was among those who joined Third Day for a rendition of the band’s hit “Consuming Fire”, and got positive reinforcement (and maybe a post-service job offer) from lead singer Mac Powell. “Looks like David Carr will be looking for another line of work, ‘Sticks’ did a real good job,” Powell said after the performance.

The band’s trip, part of the USO’s activities in the area, also included performances at Camp Arijan in Kuwait and Camp Liberty in Baghdad. Upon return, the band received a letter from Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, commanding general of Task Force Iron at C.O.B. Speicher, thanking them for their visit. “Your superb concert… not only entertained our deployed service members and civilians, but also enhanced our combat readiness and soldier spiritual fitness.”

Back at home, Third Day guitarist Brad Avery performed his song “Thank You”, dedicated to America’s armed forces personnel, as part of the America Supports You Summit on January 25th. The event brought together representatives from more than 100 organizations working under the America Supports You, a Department of Defense program that connects individuals, organizations and companies to hundreds of homefront groups offering a variety of support to the military community.

Avery performed the song, along with co-writer Scott Thomas Laughridge and guitarist Sonny Lallerstedt, following a speech from Defense Secretary Robert Gates. “America Supports You is a fabulous organization that is growing and expanding its reach,” Avery said. “We are glad to be a part of a network which helps our soldiers and veterans realize that there are people in this great nation that not only love and appreciate them, but also are here to help in so many different ways.”

Following a busy January, the members of Third Day are jumping back into the studio, continuing work on its upcoming studio album due this summer, and making preparations for the first leg of its 2008 touring schedule, together with special guests Sanctus Real, DecembeRadio and Revive.

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