Concert for Valor a big hit for Blazers

On Nov. 11, an estimated 800,000 people attended the Concert of Valor at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. People from all across the country came out to listen to free music, including a number of Blazers.

The concert was held on Veterans' Day to honor veterans and their families for their service. Sponsored by the Home Box Office and Starbucks, the concert was available to watch on television or stream online. It had an impressive lineup that featured superstars such as singers Bruce Springsteen and Rihanna and rapper Eminem.

Junior Joseph Maher said he had a great time at the concert. "It had a lot of different types of musicians, so any music fan could enjoy themselves," he said. Sophomore Talia Stern agreed, saying that Eminem ended the concert on a high note. "The energy throughout the concert was great, and everyone was dancing and having a good time," Stern said.

Maher and Stern both left for the concert right after school ended in order to get a good spot to sit. Maher, who went with a group of fellow Blair students, took the Metro into D.C. Stern went with her family, driving and walking in order to avoid traffic after the concert.

The concert started at 7 p.m., but Maher and Stern both arrived before 4 p.m., and the crowd had already extended far enough down the Mall that the stage was out of sight. "If I stood on my tippy-toes, I could see the very top of the stage," Stern said. While neither Maher or Stern could see the stage, they agreed that it didn't detract from the experience. "There were jumbotrons and speakers every 100 feet, so it was still a fun environment way beyond sight of the stage," Maher said.

Both Maher and Stern said they thought a concert to honor the veterans was a great idea, but they admitted they went solely for the music. "When I planned to go to the concert, I was completely unaware that November 11th was Veteran's Day," Maher said. However, both agreed that the snippets of veterans' stories between musical acts were one of the best parts of the concert. "The soldiers' stories were so interesting and inspirational," Maher said.