Frechette brings country to 501st CSW

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Brian Stives
  • 501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs
RAF ALCONBURY, United Kingdom --  Country music artist Nicole Frechette performed free concerts at RAF Croughton and RAF Alconbury July 2 and 3 as part of Armed Forces Entertainment.

"This is our third AFE tour and it has always been an amazing experience," said Frechette. "It's exciting as a performer to be able to pursue the tour overseas and performing for the troops is one of the most amazing things I have ever done. I call it the 'Gratitude Fest' because we come over here to say, 'thank you so much for what you do for our country' and they turn around and say, 'thank you so much for coming over and performing for us.'"

While singing for one wing at two different bases is unique in itself, the performer will take away other things from her two-night performance at the bases.

"RAF Croughton was one of the smaller bases we have performed at, and when we drove in and saw a bunch of sheep, I didn't know what to think," said Frechette. "The crowd was great and we were able to meet everybody.

"We have a song in our set called 'Extra Mile,' I wrote for the servicemembers to say thank you. We do it every show, and it always gets a great response," said Frechette. "Well, last night at RAF Croughton, one of the wives came up to us crying and she said thank you so much for the song, my husband just got back from Africa after nine months and your song made me cry. This is wonderful, because I don't get to hear about those reactions often.

"RAF Alconbury was fun, because there is a festival going on," she said. "Not many times do you get to go out before or even during a show, like some of the band did, to get on some rides. It's amazing to me that we are in a different country and we are celebrating the Fourth of July."

Other things she learned is what each bases' mission is and where the people are from.

"It is just a really positive experience every time and almost every show is completely different, we get to see so many different amazing things and we get to see the daily lives of these Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines that most people don't ever get to see," she said.

"At regular shows, I don't ask the audience where they are from or invite the band out to meet the fans," said Frechette. "I assume they are from wherever we are playing, but for these shows, I have the whole band come out and we all ask where they are from and what they do. On the bus ride to the next show, we are saying, 'you should have heard about this person, or what this person does.' It is great."

Preforming for the military holds special meaning for Frechette.

"My brother is in the Coast Guard and we don't get to see much of him," she said. "So when I am singing to the men and women in the military, I think about him and how much I don't get to see him. I really admire what he, and all of the servicemembers, does. Thank you."