The Patty Reese Band will headline a free concert honoring America’s veterans on Friday evening during the 16th Annual Tribute to America’s Veterans Concert at the American Legion Post 41, Cissel-Saxon in downtown Silver Spring.
Retired U.S. Navy Captain Dr. Cynthia Izuno Macri will serve as the event’s keynote speaker.
Dr. Macri served 35 years in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps, is licensed in Maryland, and is board-certified in gynecologic oncology and OB/GYN. After graduating from Temple University School of Medicine, she held various leadership roles at multiple military medical centers before moving to the Pentagon as Special Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations for Diversity.
She has authored over 20 scientific papers and received numerous awards for her youth outreach programs, encouraging diverse students to pursue careers in science and medicine. Dr. Macri serves on several non-profit boards focused on health equity for marginalized communities, is a member of the Maryland Governor’s Commission on Suicide Prevention and the Commission on Veterans Affairs, and was appointed to the Advisory Committee for Women Veterans in 2022.
An active amateur soccer player, she plays on local teams and National Championship teams in Maryland and Northern Virginia. In December 2017, she became Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Herndon, Va.-based EagleForce Health.
Concert headliner and Americana artist Patty Reese has earned troubadour status with her impressive performances, delivering 250 dates a year as a solo act and with a full band. Her latest release, ‘Lift Us Up,’ showcases her powerful vocals and songwriting talents, reflecting a broad scope of Americana influences such as Roots, Blues, and Soul.
With 17 awards from the Washington D.C. Area Music Association, including Artist and Album of the Year, Patty has performed at major venues alongside international stars like Beth Hart and Aretha Franklin. Her songwriting is inspired by legends like Bob Dylan and Brandi Carlile, and she has been compared to icons such as Janis Joplin and Adele.
‘Lift Us Up’ features the title track celebrating mutual support and uplifting themes, alongside tracks like “Root of the Matter,” a humorous take on a past relationship, and “Wild Blue Yonder,” which captures the exhilaration of recovery. She also delivers soulful renditions of classics like “Help Me Make It Through The Night” and Burt Bacharach’s “What The World Needs Now Is Love.”
“My music has always been my palette and safe harbor for loving and laughing at life and expressing my deepest pain,” Reese said. “Most important to me is delivering bone deep, authentic, truth.”
The 16th Annual Tribute to America’s Veterans Concert will kick off at 6 p.m. on Friday at the American Legion Post 41, Cissel-Saxon at 905 Silgo Ave. in downtown Silver Spring. Everyone is welcome to attend, and military attire is encouraged.
Graphic Courtesy of Silver Spring Town Center Inc.