Charlie Daniels Announces An Operation Close to His Heart!

NASHVILLE, TN. (STARS FOR STRIPES) - Charlie Daniels launches Operation Heartstrings, which is a plea to corporate America to help the dedicated men and women serving in the Armed Forces overseas combat the loneliness and isolation of service in the War on Terror by providing instruments, albums, DVDs, CD and DVD players.

Operation Heartstrings is designed to put musical instruments and other sources of portable entertainment into the hands of the men and women who serve our country in some of the most desolate parts of the world.

'On a recent trip to Southwest Asia to entertain our men and women in uniform,' said Charlie Daniels, 'we found that many of them played musical instruments of one kind or another. But the amount of instruments available to them was extremely limited. We're asking for your help.'

Charlie Daniels is partnering with Major General Gus Hargett of the Tennessee National Guard and the Tennessee Air Guard, Brigadier General Russell Frutiger at USAREUR (US Army Europe), and the G-1 division MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation). These partners are providing transportation from Nashville to all branches of the Armed Forces serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Henry Juskiewicz of Gibson Guitar is leading the way in and 100 Operation Heartstrings t-shirts, while Gravely/Ariens have contributed the financial resources to get this program underway. Additional donations include Gorilla and Pignose Amps and Guitars, Black Diamond Strings, Peavey Amps, Forks Drum Closet, Gretsch Electric Guitars, keyboards from Soundcheck/Nashville, Rapco International Cords, Shure Microphones, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Ernie Ball Guitar Picks, laptop computers from Bridgestone/Firestone, CDs from Sony Nashville, DVDs and CDs from Anderson Merchandisers, and keyboards from SIR Nashville.

Tax deductible donations can be made through STARS FOR STRIPES at www.starsandstripes.com, a nonprofit corporation.