Irish Tenor Lends Voice to American Military

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The Irish don't keep all the luck to themselves, which is exactly why tenor Anthony Kearns, of the famous Irish Tenors, is teaming up with fellow Irishman Bono's ONE organization to raise money for the USO and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund on October 20 at the Embassy of New Zealand in D.C.

Kearns first lent his perfectly-pitched voice to the American military last year when he sang for the USO's wounded Warrior Program at the New Zealand Embassy. [Read column by Michelle Obama about putting veterans back to work.]

"I'm honored to participate once again in this fantastic event hosted by Ambassador Moore and the ONE Campaign. Last year's event was truly inspirational – and I appreciate what New Zealand did to make it happen. I take pleasure singing at events where my music can help soothe wounds and be an inspiration and uniting force for peace throughout the world," he said.

In next week's invitation-only event, he is likely to also join with actor Robert DeNiro, a spokesman for for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. [Check out U.S. News Weekly, now available as an iPad app.]

Kearns, who fancies himself a historian, says he feels indebted to the U.S. military for keeping peace in the world. Over the past year, he performed at the National Memorial Day parade during the Moment of Remembrance, at events to raise money for educational scholarships for military families and at the Kennedy Center's choral tribute to military families. [See photos of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. ]

He's even thrown himself into American politics, flying from Dublinto sing the famous ballad, "Danny Boy," for Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell's inauguration party.

The USO is known for hosting great entertainers and Jan Scruggs, the founder and president of Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, says Kearns fits the bill for his joint fundraiser.

"Events during Vietnam brought us Ann Margret, Sammy Davis Jr., Nancy Sinatra and the greatest wartime entertainer of all, Bob Hope. Anthony Kearns fits that tradition well—and we're honored that he's performing," says Scruggs.

Kearns isn't the first Irishman to help an American soldier out. There is a long history of the Irish lending their clover mojo to Americans in combat, dating back to the Civil war when Abraham Lincoln credited the 69th Irish brigade with helping to win the war for the Union, And today there are Irish soldiers deployed in Iraq patrolling the "Irish Route" — one of the most dangerous roads in Baghdad.

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Bolivians voice road march fears

  The marchers oppose government plans to build a highway through their land Indigenous protesters in Bolivia say they are resuming a march against a new road, a day after calling a temporary halt amid fears of confrontation.

They have been walking for weeks in protest at government plans to build a road through their land.
Hundreds of police officers and government supporters have set up road blocks on the route to prevent them reaching Bolivia's main city, La Paz.
There have been several failed attempts at dialogue with the government.
For more than a month, the column of indigenous people has been advancing at a snail's pace on La Paz, more than 500km (310 miles) from its starting point in Bolivia's lowlands.
The protesters say they were not consulted before the construction of the highway began.
After unsuccessful attempts to start talks, hundreds of police officers have been sent to the town of Yucumo, halfway along the route of the march, to prevent the protesters from coming further.
"We fear that the police may assault us. So we don't want to risk it," one of the protesters, Ernesto Sanchez, told the BBC on Monday.
"There are women and children among us. And the police may use tear gas. That's what we're afraid of."
Behind the police cordon, hundreds of government supporters have set up roadblocks.
They say the highway is essential to bring progress and much-needed integration to the country.
Critics of the project say President Evo Morales is alienating his indigenous support base, and that the road will destroy the very environment that the president says he wants to protect.

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