Soldier Show is “Army Strong”

May 30, 2012 Denise Romano
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U.S. Army soldiers wowed the crowd with their Soldier Show, at the theater on the Fort Hamilton Army Garrison on May 25.

Hundreds of Ridgeites kicked off Memorial Day weekend by taking in the 90-minute performance of pure, unadulterated entertainment, called “Army Strong.”

The talented dancers and singers have no previous training – when it comes to musical theater, that is. “We beg and plead with their units so we can borrow them,” said Sergeant Drake DeLucca, visual content manager for the show, adding that they perform 35 shows around the world.

“In 1917, Sergeant Irving Berlin produced a show in Texas and after they performed, they boarded ships to fight in World War I,” DeLucca said. “We pulled one of these guys from his eighth deployment in Afghanistan. After they perform they go right back to their units. They are professional soldiers. “

The show, “Army Strong,” embodies the emotional, spiritual and physical strength that we all have. Corporal Jeremy Gaynor sang the National Anthem before the spectacular show began.

The words, “There is nothing on this green earth stronger than the U.S. Army, because there is nothing on this green earth as strong as an army soldier,” flashed on a screen before soldiers sang a rousing rendition of Christina Aguilera’s “Stronger,” a number that also closed out the show.

Soldiers sang plenty of popular songs that highlight aspects of their life, like Jay-Z’s “Hard Knock Life,” Des’ree’s “You Gotta Be” and LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It,” where the lyrics were changed to, “Army Strong and I Know It.” There were also some somber tunes and Big Band music.

“The show was totally awesome,” said Command Sergeant Major Earl Rice. “I believe the soldiers delivered a performance that the crowd expected. Their reaction [to the show] reinforced what the soldiers are doing and that’s getting the message out – we are the army and we are army strong.”

Specialist Genesis Rodriguez, a Bronx native, is a parachute rigger at her station in Fort Benning, Georgia. She said she was happy to be performing at home.

“It feels great. It’s an honor to be back in my hometown. It’s exciting,” she said, adding that she first saw the Soldier Show last year and knew she wanted to be a part of it. When her chief officer found out she could sing, he asked her to join. “He gave me the push I needed,” she said.

Second Lieutenant Daniel Monplaisir is a Staten Island native, currently stationed with the National Guard in Tallassee, Alabama. “It’s fantastic, an absolute joy to come back here and see friends I haven’t seen in years,” he said. “I get to come back to Staten Island and have pizza and bagels.”

Monplaisir, who also has a degree in theater and is pursuing an acting career, added that “Since I am in the army, I thought I would come on the Soldier Show to do my favorite thing for my favorite group of people – army soldiers.”

“It’s great to be able to administer soldiers and give them a break of the struggles of everyday life,” Rodriguez commented. “At the end of the show, they walk away happy and that makes it all worth it.”

Monplaisir said he is always surprised when people thank him after the show. “You get to lift spirits by singing and dancing and putting on a show,” he explained. “It’s the greatest feeling ever.”

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