'A Salute to Veterans' coming to GOTL later this month

Jul. 10—A concert intended to honor area veterans will take place later this month.

Craig Morgan will be performing at the Yankies and Goblin Amphitheater at Geneva-on-the-Lake, alongside the U.S. Army Band, As You Were, on July 28.

"We think we've got something really terrific," said Frank Cimorelli, one of the organizers of the concert. "I know the Army's excited, and Craig's excited. We've got a fly-over with some vintage aircraft, it'll be during Craig's finale."

Cimorelli said an award will be presented to a veteran from the community who has provided exemplary service to veterans in the area.

"There's also three active-duty military members from Ashtabula and Lake counties that are going to be recognized," he said. "There may be as many as six, but right now, there's four. We're really excited to give them some well-deserved recognition."

All of the award recipients will be given a hand-made, patriotic blanket, Cimorelli said.

He believes people use the word unique too loosely.

"They'll say 'unique,' but what they really mean is whatever they're talking about is special," he said. "To be unique, it's got to be one-of-a-kind, it's got to be ... out of the ordinary, it's got to be a one-off, and that's what this salute is.

"We are so fortunate that northeast Ohio was selected by the Army to come and participate."

Morgan re-enlisted on the stage at the Grand Ole Opry in July of last year, and is currently conducting a nation-wide tour.

"The only appearance the Army band is going to be making along with Craig is right here in northeast Ohio, so to me, that makes it unique, because it's not going to happen anywhere else," Cimorelli said.

The event will be more focused on veterans than a normal concert, he said.

"We want veterans to feel proud and appreciated," Cimorelli said.

Cimorelli also organized a Lee Greenwood concert to honor Vietnam veterans in the village last year.

Tickets for the event can be purchased via ticketweb.com.