MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Station residents and Iwakuni City locals enjoyed live performances, free food and a fireworks display during the 2014 Summer Music Festival, hosted by Marine Corps Community Services, at Penny Lake fields aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 6.
The main attraction for the event was a music gig by Annie Bosko and Danny Myrick. Both country music songwriters, Myrick is known for his work on songs such as “International Harvester,” by Craig Morgan and ”She’s Country,” by Jason Aldean. Bosko has done work with singers such as Darius Rucker and Dierks Bentley, as well as having sung the national anthem at an NBA All-Star game.
Myrick and Bosko’s collaborative work includes the song ”Crooked Halo.”
“We came to Japan just for this show,” said Myrick. “The distance doesn’t even matter; this is a foreign military base, so we’re happy to do anything we can to provide a little bit of support.”
While the music festival serves to give station residents an opportunity to enjoy a special evening aboard the air station, performers can benefit just as much from this annual event.
“I think the purpose for us coming here is to have an opportunity to help raise morale and to bring a little bit of home here, even just for a day,” said Myrick. “We often feel like we don’t have a lot to offer the troops, so it’s great to have a chance to show that we’re very grateful and we don’t take what they do for granted.”
Bosko also mentioned that she was very excited to play on a military base.
“So far, everyone has been really accommodating and just so excited, they’re really happy to see Americans coming to visit and support the troops,” said Bosko. “This is my first time on a military base and I’ve always wanted to play on one. This was the first opportunity I got, so I had to take it.”
Myrick and Bosko made sure to thank the audience during their performance, at times even dedicating songs and welcoming service members on stage.
“I wish they would do events like this more often because I love dancing, I love listening to music; just anything I can do to get out and enjoy life,’ said Sgt. Mark Lawson, an ordnanceman with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242. “This gives people something so much better to do than sit in their rooms and play video games. Some people just do the same thing every weekend because life is easy when you stay in your comfort zone, but life is extravagant when you leave your comfort zone.”