Celebrating those Military who returned & remembering those who have not...

On what was supposed to be a day of celebration for those that returned from the war, it was a sobering reminder of those who will not.

AC BARON , Moorpark, CA (PRWEB) November 10, 2003 --
Staff Sgt. Donald C. May, Jr., 31 of Richmond, VA was one of four Marines killed March 25th 2003 when their tank plunged off a bridge, landing upside down, underwater in the Euphrates River during combat operations northwest of An Nasiriyah

One year ago, a small town 18-year-old girl with big dreams found herself half way around the world singing to our troops and coalition forces. Camp New York, Camp New Jersey & Camp DOHA, were just a few of the remote locations Ashley Jay and her band of 5 visited while entertaining thousands on her 23 day whirl wind AFE & USO tour.

Such opportunity rarely experienced by outsiders had to be recorded and filmed. All those friendships, experiences, faces, and emotion reached out to this young 18 year old while meeting troops that in most cases where not much older than she was. She had become a surrogate daughter, girlfriend, or sister to many, and still to this day keeps in touch via email and letters to hundreds.

Upon returning to her small Southern California hometown just north of Los Angeles, a group of friends got together and Ashley shared all her cherished memories. Being a singer, and wanting to give something back, Ashley and her friends wrote and composed a song in honor of our valiant troops entitled Almost Home". The moving song was then made into a music video utilizing footage taken while performing at the base camps and areas including Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. There was a missing element to the project, closure".

In order to complete the DVD Ashley needed to bring the tour home. Ashley Jay with her band, crew, and help from our U.S. Marine Corps and the Department of Defense held a concert at Victory Field, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center" in Twenty-nine Palms, CA. The day was full of meet and greets while shooting segments for the DVD completion, and spending time getting to know many of the Marines and their families.

One of the days fondest memories was attempting to drive a tank. Staff Sgt. Donald May, Jr. and his crew were kind enough to give Ashley a personal tank-driving lesson, and then film a segment for the opening of her video. It was at that filming location that Ashley met Donald Mays then pregnant wife, Deborah and their two children. Shortly after that day, Sgt. May and his tank crew were deployed to Iraq.

The music video became a source of comfort to many waiting for their loved ones to return and soon reached a top 20 position on the Jones Media Network show, Great American Country". The song, Almost Home" was featured on the newscast Hannity and Colmes during the President Bush speech on the Aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln". Distribution of the DVD followed shortly to select base exchanges, and Internet sites.

Almost one year to the day that Ashley had the opportunity to drive that tank, she was invited to perform at the Marine battalions return to Twenty-nine Palms. Part of Ashleys day was to make a special guest appearance at the Base Exchange before her performance. Some 6,500 marines and family were present during the days events.

It was at the Base Exchange where Ashley was approached by Ms. Deborah May, her son, daughter, and new baby boy, and through her tears of sadness and pride, told Ashley of the fate of her husband and crew. They were not coming home.

Deborah told Ashley that her husband spoke proudly of his part in the Almost Home" project.

Staff Sgt. Donald C. May, Jr.,31 of Richmond, VA was one of four Marines killed March 25th 2003 when their tank plunged off a bridge, landing upside down, underwater in the Euphrates River during combat operations northwest of An Nasiriyah.

When the bodies of May, PFC Francisco A. Martinez-Flores, 21 of Los Angeles, LCpl. Patrick T. ODay, 20, Sonoma, CA, and LCpl. Robert M. Rodriquez, 21 of Queens, NY were recovered, a camera was found inside the tank. One of the few photos recovered from the camera was of the four men of the 1st Tank Battalion, Charlie Co., 1st Marine Division, Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center in Twenty-nine Palms, CA. This photo was then presented to Ashley Jay.

On what was suppose to be a day of celebration for those that returned from the war, it was a sobering reminder of those who will not. The public cannot forget our men and women, and the freedoms they are fighting for.

As such, Ashley Jay in conjunction with RanWell Music Publishing has elected to donate all profits for the coming year from the sales of the Almost Home" DVD to help immediate families of KIA Killed in Action" service men and women. The fund will be set up in the names of Staff Sgt. May and his crew.    

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For information on how you can help, please write to ACBARONMGT@AOL.COM and visit WWW.ASHLEYJAY.COM

Photo's available by request...