Below is an article that appeared in the "Daily Citizen" in Wisconsin, but first, I personally want to thank Lem Genovese for his great music and support; ...

Dawn Klockow -and the Beaver Dam Exchange Club for their INCREDIBLE support and leadership in making this dream come true, ...

My cousin's Joey Cantafio and Sandy Hautamaki for the beautiful gift of Ryan, who inspired so many people to celebrate in his honor and his name. ...

To all the Gold Star Families in Wisconsin, for coming early and staying late and celebrating the lives of their son's and daughters. ...

To David Noe - Marine Corps League, WI, brother, you blew me away, thank you, thank you, thank you, I get tears in my eyes as I remember the opening ceremony that you designed and directed; I can't wait to work with you again in honoring Americans. ...

To Kirk Morris who drove all the up to speak and to be the MC and introduce my band, Kirk, you are one hell of an American and I know Geoff had his arm around Ryan and they were beaming with pride. ...

To Marty Smith III, Your support was enough, but you always seem to go far beyond that, I guess that's the Marine in you coming out ... I love ya brother...

To Sandy (Ryan's mom) and her brothers who make up the incredible band - ALEXIS ... you are just awesome and I understand why you've had an amazing 30+year run as southern Wisconsin's best! Thanks for joining us on stage for "Comfortably Numb." I know a few Marines in Heaven who were rockin' to us that night....

To Russ Philip-Flowers for Heroes, thanks for making the trip, I saw that you had given everything away from your booth before we even went on ... I knew you wouldn't be disappointed....

To Sgt Nick Dimiceli, US Army-Purple Heart Recipient-Iraq; thank you for your service to America and for being our Keynote Speaker. You now have a friend in me for life. I hope to see you real soon! ...

To the Patriot Guard Riders for showing up in numbers and for rockin' with us all night. I can't wait for next year. ...

To the US Army for your HUGE support, I loved watching the line, sometimes 50 deep to participate in your activities ... ARMY STRONG ~ Hooah! ...

To the people of Beaver Dam, for your support. As I mentioned, thank you so much for adopting me and for letting our idea of an event that honors real American Heroes become a reality. I can't wait to come back to your beautiful town and rock next September 11th. ...

To my band, you have no idea what it's like for me to stand in front of you and listen to you. You are all the best in so many ways. ...

To Mike Shlifka, for hangin in there with me as my road manager thru Let Freedom Sing (2001- 2002) Iraq, all US Miltary Base tours and beyond, Love ya brother. ...

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ARTICLE - below is the article written by Arron Holbrook ... Aaron writes:

Of all the reasons to get together and enjoy a sunny fall afternoon, few could be more meaningful than the American Hero Concert Saturday in Beaver Dam.

Though funds raised will help support two local scholarships, the event was more about thanking and honoring the American soldiers, veterans and their families for their service and sacrifices on behalf of the United States.

“All you Gold Star families, thank you for your gift to our country,” said Joe Cantafio, addressing the families in attendance who had lost a member of the military in service to the country.

A World War II Navy Veteran plays "Taps" after the 21-gun salute during the Opening Ceremony at the American Hero Music Festival in Swan Park


Cantafio, the cousin of Ryan Cantafio, who died in Iraq, explained that the concert came about as a result of a conversation at an Exchange Club conference. Several months of conversations and planning came to fruitition Saturday at Swan City Park.

“This is a special day for our family,” Cantafio said.

The opening ceremony included a welcome from Beaver Dam Mayor Tom Kennedy. Kennedy and master of ceremonies David Noe, commandant of the local Marine Corps League, thanked veterans and the families of veterans, especially those who had lost a son or daughter in defense of the country.

Joe Cantafio sang the “Star Spangled Banner,” and there was a volley from the American Legion firing squad, playing of taps, presentation of colors by the Beaver Dam AMVETS and American Legion and reading of names of military members who had died in the service of the country.


David Noe, commandant of the local Marine Corps League salutes as USO entertainer Joe Cantafio sings the National Anthem.

Those names included Ryan Cantafio of Beaver Dam, Kirk Straseskie of Beaver Dam, Michael Wendling of Mayville, Hans Kurth of Columbus, Rachel Bosveld of Waupun, Michael Fitz of Horicon, Matthew Zimdars of Watertown and Edward Davis Jr. of Racine. Davis’s father was on hand.

While acknowledging the grief of those losses, the event also emphasized the support for service men and and women and their families.

And Joe Cantafio, whose band 101st Rock Division has played in Iraq, said only in America do people gather with such freedom to enjoy and support one another.

That support was evident by several booths including one from the U.S. Army, the Marine Corps League, Serving the 32nd and Dry Hootch.

Serving the 32nd had a banner that people signed which will be sent to Iraq. The group is supporting the more than 3,000 Wisconsin members of the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team stationed in Iraq as well as all of the state’s active military personnel and their families.


Families sign a banner that will be sent to the Wisconsin 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The mother of little girl pictured is serving in Afghanistan with the 32nd.


A Gold Star Mother signs the banner of support.

They also were accepting donations for a Green Bay Packers tailgate party to be held Oct. 18 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Madison. All family members of those serving in the military are welcome. Donations also will be used to purchase copies of a book being produced by the active members of the 32nd serving in Iraq. For more information, visit http://servingthe32nd.org.

Dry Hootch, dryhootch.org, is a non-profit group that offers peer-to-peer counseling, education, outreach and a chance to socialize for veterans returning from combat. The group based in Milwaukee has been active for about a year. They sell coffee to raise funds for their activities.

While there were serious moments, there was plenty of party atmosphere too.

“We are here today to celebrate life,” Noe said early in the day.

Once Alexis took the stage, that celebration began with classic rock drawing people in from other activities in the community. Lead singer Sandy Hautamaki, Ryan’s mother, and her brothers make up Alexis. They promised to play loud enough for Ryan and his buddies to listen in with Sandy saying before one song, “This one’s for my boy.”
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On Sunday morning, Joey and his wife Bobbi, Sandy and her mother and friends, and my buddy Ryan Jazak - who drove in from Milwaukee, gathered at Oak Wood Cemetery at Ryans grave. I listened to so many great stories about Ryan and all the fun things he did growing up in Beaver Dam. I sang "Brave Warrior" to Ryan for the first time ... some tears fell, but it was good. We talked about him again, and then I played "God Bless the USA" and all of us sang ... and it was good, the perfect way to end our weekend together in the hometown of my hero-cousin. God bless the USA.

Photo's and video of the American Hero Music Festival by Marty Smith III ~
http://picasaweb.google.com/MarineCorpsLeague801/1stAnnualAmericanMusicHeroFestivalInBeaverDamWI#