CENTRE — A pair of rising country music singers with local ties will headline Saturday's American Hero Concert 2012. The event, conceived by one of the performers, will raise money for wounded and disabled veterans in Alabama.

Sand Rock's Leah Seawright and Chattanooga native Wade Trammell—whose parents hail from Centre—will take the stage at the Cherokee Arena at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Trammell said he came up with the idea for a concert to benefit wounded veterans after writing a tribute song titled “American Hero.”

“I wrote the song about Mark Forester, who was the friend of a friend of mine,” Trammell told The Post last week. “I got a really good response to the song.”

Trammell said after he set his mind on trying to make a concert happen, he took his idea to the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce.

“They got right behind me,” he said.

Trammell said it wasn't difficult to get local businesses to sign on as sponsors. Before long, officers from the local American Legion post came calling and said they wanted to participate, too.

“They are going to provide the concessions at the event and all the proceeds the concessions and the concert will go to the Wounded Warrior Family Foundation,” Trammell said.

The Montgomery-based non-profit contributes to the welfare, support and education and/or retraining of the spouses and children of wounded warriors.
Trammell said there is an advantage to working with an Alabama-based veterans group.

“All the money we raise will go to help veterans and their families right here in Alabama,” he said. “There are 2,500 veterans in Cherokee County alone, and we hope they all come Saturday night.”

Trammell said it is his goal to make the concert an annual event in Centre.
He also said the concert will honor not just veterans, but also first responders such as firefighters and police officers.

“It's for everyone who puts their life on the line,” Trammell said. “We're expecting a Guard unit from Fort Payne that has recently returned from the Middle East to be there, too.”

Trammell said reserved seating for the concert is already sold out, but general admission tickets can be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce and will be available at the door Saturday night. The cost is $15 per ticket. Children ages 7-12 get in for $10. Ages 6 and under are free.

Trammell said the best thing about the reserved seating are two people who are going to be hearing his song “American Hero” performed live for the first time.

“Mark Forester's parents are going to be there, so that's going to make the night really special,” Trammell said.