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Tribute to the Troops 2010

by Antony & Linda Charles

How it Began...

Has it really been 5 years since I shot the first Tribute to the Troops at Herb's Farm? 5 years since Mike Seets built those FINE BACMPs that knocked our socks off (click here for more info on the BACMP...)? 5 long years and we are still entrenched in Afghanistan and Iraq?

TNT
Tony Charles & Tim Wellman

Yes, it's been a long time since the last Tribute to the Troops, but it's been on my mind, and I've wanted to shoot another one, but I didn't think the time was right until all our boys (and ladies too) were coming home. Wanted to make it more of a "Tribute to the Troops Homecoming." A Welcome Home, Good Job boys show.

But here we are, 5 years later and still entrenched in Afghanistan, I'm still a CJ, and I still love fireworks, and we still have troops over there, and I know I sure would need a moral boost after 5 years of drudgery, so this would seem like exactly the right time for a Tribute to the Troops. (Of course to me, we can never thank all of our military who are serving and who have served enough! The sacrifices they and their families make are what makes America strong.)

Many of you may know CJ member Tim Wellman. He was the catalyst to the first Tribute to the Troops. I met Tim many many years ago. It was at a shoot, and I was talking to someone about needing some 2FA to lift a shell. Tim must have over heard us, and he spoke up saying he happened to have some 2FA and would be happy to spot me a pinch. So we shook hands and introduced ourselves. We lofted the shell, and soon after went down to experimental and shot it off Perfect! That was the beginning of a notable, honorable and downright fun friendship. Tim and I got a (ATF licensed and certified) magazine together and started swapping our best and favorite formulas and coming up with a few formulas of our own. His favorites were Willow and Tiger Tail, and we would experiment with color, effects and symmetrical breaks.

Go-Getters in production

I think it was 2004 when Tim's number came up and his reserve unit was scheduled to deploy... to.... Afghanistan. Now Tim is a year or two younger than me mind you, and in many ways I feel like I've watched a replay of myself growing older and up. I did two hitches in the Navy on the USS Saipan during the Mariel Boatlift in 1980, when a couple hundred thousand Cubans made their mass exodus to the US under Jimmy Carter's watch. Like most police actions, this was not technically wartime, even though we were in a sense being invaded when Castro emptied out his jails and mental health facilities to send to the US. Being a young pup myself and witnessing desperate people crammed in boats, rescuing ones from boats that were sinking, and pulling bodies out of the water when it was too late definatly had a huge impact on my life. I had traveled the world in the US Navy, and experienced many things, both good and bad, and I knew that when we serve the military, especially in war time, we sometimes see things that can't be unseen. And then there is the whole "don't get shot" thing...

As time approached for Tim to leave, he faced his impending obligation with a stature, readiness, and maturity that to this day I respect. He was proud to be serving his country, and I knew he would be able to handle whatever they threw at him.

8" Shells prepped

Tim called me a few times from Afghantistan and told me of their finding caves full of ordinance and caches of the enemy weapons. The laughter in his voice as he described setting the bricks of C4 on the enemy’s cache and finally lit the fuse on some "Ultimate" salutes!

While Tim was gone, I continued to go to our manufacturing site and build shells, and would keep him updated on things here at home and with the CrackerJacks.

As Tim had prepared and left for war, I knew I wanted to do something that would honor his sacrifice, and the sacrifice of everyone who were serving, and who has served our country. I have maintained many friendships over the years that were from my time in the service. Rich, lifelong, important friendships... the kind that you risk for and stake your life on.

8" Shells prepped

I tell you all of this because each of those who serve have their own story. They each left home and family and served for us all. And while the Tribute for the Troops is for All the troops, it is also for Each of the troops. Together they embody the most powerful force on the face of this planet, the United States Armed Forces. So while I can't go shake the hand, give the hug and say thank you one by one to everyone who has served or is serving, I can thank them in my own way by lighting up the sky in their honor.

Tony and Weldon Neal
with Lots to Build!

In the first Tribute, John Sagaria was an immense help with ideas for choreography and some techniques in matching and fusing that John explained to me that I had not used before, but continue to use now. As I prepared for the Tribute and time drew closer and closer, I became more excited to know that this Tribute to the Troops was going to reach more than just those in Herb's field the night of the show, as we planned to record the Punkin' Busting, the Tribute to the Troops, and John Sagaria's Ozztoberfest would be relayed out to our troops in the field, in the caves, on the ships and in the duty theaters of Afghanistan and Iraq through DVDs. While the shoot itself was relatively uneventful, it was a powerful statement of support to both our troops, and Tim Wellman, my friend.

Tribute to the Troops 2010

So that was then... this is now. As most of you know, Tim returned back from Afghantistan safe and sound... he is now married and the proud papa of a beautiful baby girl. And I've learned a lot in the last 5 years. So with the help of the 4T (Tribute to the Troops) 2010 Team we plan to dazzle you with some of the things we have learned.

Cameron staying warm
prepping a shell

We have been in various states of manufacture for this Tribute since I approached the CJ board in May of 2009 with the idea of doing another Tribute to the Troops. With the work of Cameron Grazer, Weldon Neal, and logistical support of Tim Wellman, we have put together a show that I believe will be a great source of comfort and support for our veterans and troops around the world, and especially in the active duty theaters of Iraq and Afghanistan.

We plan to professionally videotape this show, and hopefully with donations from the general membership and the public, we will be able to produce top quality DVDs to send off to anonymous (i.e. Any Soldier in the active theater of Iraq and Afghanistan) mailing them off to the APO and Fleet Post Offices with a Minimum goal of 100 DVDs sent out to each. I would like to include the Friday night show also.

16" Purple Heart
Shells of Shells
(Can't wait to see these!)

I would like to thank the following vendors and supply companies who have helped with donations and discounts with chemicals and products, casing, etc.

Harry Gillium ~ Harry has been both a confidant and mentor to me over the years. Harry always eskews obfuscation and is a great friend. He's the owner of www.skylighter.com and has ALWAYS been there for many of us! Thank you Harry. Hey Toxic Central... Be There!!!

Dennis and Donna Costner ~ Fireworks Productions Inc. Long time friends of the CJ's and the first Tribute to the Troops. Check them out at www.fireworksproductionsinc.com or call at 1-800-765-BANG! Thank you D&D!

Gary Hanson ~ A friendly wealth of pyro knowledge, the Shell Insert King, a Big Contributor to Jimmy's memorial shell, and to the Tribute to the Troops. Check out Precocious Pyrotechnics at www.pyro-pro.com or call (320)346-2201.

Phil Somners ~ Chemical and Pyro Supply Sales and Big Time supporter of our manufacturing effort for the Tribute to the Troops. Great Chemicals with Fast Shipping. Thank you Phil. Catch up with Phil at www.ihaveadotcom.com and tell him the 4T crew sent you.

I encourage my fellow pyros in the club to support these vendors. I know they will have some great deals to offer at the shoots, and I encourage you to support them as they have supported us.

I would also like to thank the following people:

I thank the CrackerJacks Board of Directors in advance for the opportunity to shoot this show, and for granting the budget for this show.
Herb Jenkins for giving us a place to come shoot.
Cameron Grazer, Weldon Neal, and Tim Wellman for keeping up with me when I was in full speed mode, and for giving me a shove when I was running out of steam, you guys have been a blessing, and I truly appreciate you.

We thank these individuals who have made donations to the shoot:

Peter Huebner
Anthony Callari
Jacob Walter
Eric Valliere
Norm Whetzel
Alan Davies
John Leonard

We thank all of you for helping to make the shoot and the making and distribution of the videos happen!

Final Note (For Now):

This effort has cost a great deal of time and money, both of which I have and always will give freely to my military and veteran brothers. We pretty much spent all we could in both our time and our money to provide our troops with a show they and you will not soon forget! To help us defray the pre and post production costs, we could really use a little help from those of you who can help us with the final product costs and the post shoot engineering expenses to get this tribute into the hands of our men and women in uniform. Just a little from many can go a long way...

So if you have an extra $5 or $10 or.... Please hit the link to PayPal. You don't have to have a PayPal account to do so.

Tony, Cameron & Weldon

Or you can mail a check to
Antony Charles
437 Mango Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23452

Thank you very much. And any donations or monies that are received that are above and beyond the cost of production will be funneled back to the CrackerJacks in the form of a Tax Exempt donation from Myself, Cameron Glazer, Weldon Neal and Tim Wellman.

Thank you very much,

Antony (Bear) Charles