NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Country star and 75th Ranger Regiment combat veteran Keni Thomas was invited by the Normandy, France organization Amis des Veterans Americains (Friends of American Veterans) to perform the national anthem Sunday, June 8 in the town of Ste. Mere-Eglise for the unveiling of Allied Paratrooper Monument in honor of the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day. Keni, a recipient of the bronze star for valor, will perform with the 82nd Airborne Division Color Guard. The AVA is based in Ste. Mere-Eglise, the first town liberated in the Allied march to victory in Europe in World War II.
Attending the unveiling will be the U.S. and British generals, military academy cadets from West Point, NY; and the national commander of the American Legion. The Allied Paratrooper Monument unveiling is part of the three days of commemorations that the AVA have planned during the first week of June to honor this historic anniversary. The new granite monument will be unveiled honoring Allied paratroopers who gave their lives in the airborne invasion that ensured success of Operation Overlord on D-Day.
On June 24, Keni will release third album Give It Away, the followup to his critically-acclaimed 2008 release Gunslinger. The new album is available for pre-order at iTunes. The motivational speaker also has a best-selling book "Get It On! What It Means To Lead The Way" which is available at kenithomas.com and other online outlets where books are sold.
Keni was a member of Task Force Ranger as part of Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, and served in the Battle of Mogadishu. He and his fellow rangers distinguished themselves in an 18 hour fire fight that was later recounted in the highly successful book/movie Blackhawk Down . As an entertainer, Keni has been recognized by congress, the White House, and recently inducted into the VFW Hall of Fame for his work on behalf of our veterans and military families.