December 23, 2011, Portsmouth, NH —Local performing artists, businesses, community members, and church leaders are joined together with over 50 volunteers to deliver Tenley Westbrook’s Christmas for the Troops 2011, a free concert and webcast last weekend. Organized by singer-songwriter Tenley Westbrook, founder of the Freedom Song Foundation, the concert reached over 700 people live from Bethany Church and over 80,000 on-line troops and friends from around the world.

“My son, Army Captain Christopher Scott Cash was killed on June 24, 2004 while serving in Baqubah, Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served our nation proudly for nearly 18 years,” said Nancy Lee Kelley, a Proud American Gold Star Mother and chaplain of Maine. “Ms. Tenley Westbrook and her artists, have produced the most wonderful and heartfelt concert, as a special gift to those serving our nation all around the world. My Christmas wish would be for every American to take the time this and see this wonderful show. I cried, smiled, hugged my husband, and stood tall while singing along and I thank Tenley from the bottom of my heart for this gift to all of us.”

Tenley Westbrook was born into a military family of 6 children who moved all over the world during her early childhood. Later in life, after personal tragedy struck, Tenley found her wings again by volunteering to sing the National Anthem for the Pease Greeters as they met troops going to and from Iraq & Afghanistan. She has written letters, packed boxes, and volunteered endlessly to support men and women deployed for the past several years. She has been invited to sing at USO events, at the Viet Nam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington, and for hundreds of military flights at Pease Air Force Base. Never ceasing, Tenley is there, day and night, no matter what time troops land. Inspired by so many personal stories, she wrote The Freedom Song as a gift to the troops. She knew that this song should be shared freely and wanted to make sure that the message was delivered to every man and woman serving America. She later founded the Freedom Song Foundation to continue her work.

This outstanding concert of Christmas and patriotic music featuring Westbrook, PBS favorite Tim Janis, award-winning guitarist John Paul, singer-songwriter Dan King, and many other talented artists, was produced by Scott M. Harris of Living Proof Media Group and webcast on www.tenleywestbrook.com through Justin.TV. During the live event, there were over 80,000 views of the site and because the concert is still available online, the number of views has risen steadily since the end of the live event.

“We are thrilled by the ever-increasing audience and so thankful for the incredible musicians who graced the stage, each one bringing their own unique gifts and volunteering their time,” says Westbrook, the founder of Freedom Song Foundation, a non-profit organization which brings encouragement and support to members of the military and their families through music, concerts and events. “A stand-out was John Henry, the amazing seven year-old boy and son of a Navy Veteran who helped me debut ‘Healing the Heartbreak’ which I co-wrote with Paul exclusively for this event.”

Several touching videos of people from around the nation greeting the troops were created by Technical Director, Joe Sommers for the concert, and a wonderful video sent by troops stationed in Afghanistan, was well received. “We could not have offered a program with such a huge impact on people all over the world without the support of our sponsors, partners, contributors, volunteers and Bethany Church,” states Westbrook. Sponsors include Eric F. Rieseberg, Jim Knight and Rotary Club of Portsmouth, NH.

Tenley Westbrook’s Christmas for the Troops 2011 is available by visiting www.tenleywestbrook.com

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