For seven years, Sean Hannity of the FOX News Channel has staged summer concerts in support of the Freedom Alliance Foundation, a Virginia-based non-profit founded by Lt. Col. Oliver North that helps the sons and daughters of America’s servicemen (either killed or disabled on active duty) by awarding them college scholarships. They also run troop appreciation events and a youth leadership academy summer camp for teens.

My two oldest daughters are grateful scholarship recipients (their dad died of a service-connected cancer), and words can’t describe my gratitude also, not just for the financial assistance, but for the emotional support the Freedom Alliance gives families. A personal reminder from Col. North, that their fathers were heroes who died doing heroes work, means something to young people. And as my own dad also died in combat in Vietnam, his strong and unwavering message is highly regarded in our family.

So we were invited guests to Hannity’s Atlanta Freedom Concert last Saturday at the Arena at Gwinnett Center, attending also a “VIP” reception beforehand, with an opportunity to meet soldiers and Marines from around Georgia. We were happy to see other Cobb Countians: State Rep. Earl Ehrhart, who used to sub for Hannity when he did radio at WGST-Atlanta, and his date Dawne Deverell; Col. Robert Ledee, USMC (retired), chairman of the Armour 4 Troops Foundation; Dominion Christian School Headmaster Joe Bradley and his wife Julie; DC’s athletic director Mike Gold and wife Melody; Attorneys Linda and Randy Evans (the man behind Sarah Palin’s legal defense fund); columnist/author/Georgia Gang-member Phil Kent; and east Cobb’s Iverson and Ben Cook, and parents of my best friend, Connie Forrestner.

Not normally star-struck, I was excited to have a nice conversation with FOX pundit and former Mondale presidential campaign manager Bob Beckel. Finally, proof that at least one living liberal really does support the troops! I couldn’t thank him enough for being there.

Sitting next to me at the concert was a young Marine from Smyrna, recovering from combat injuries. He plans to attend college as soon as he can. American flags flew, veterans were all around (and recognized by those on stage), as was the WSB gang, sponsors of the concert. (Another oh wow moment came for me when weather guy David Chandley sat nearby with his popcorn. I just love the whole WSB crew).

News hound Scott Slade (“Give returning troops our gratitude and a job”) had me cheering from the get-go, and then the music. Lee Greenwood, Charlie Daniels, Billy Ray Cyrus, Michael W. Smith. Comedian Rich Little (“Half of you thought I was dead and the other half thought I was Little Richard”) had us rolling, though my daughters had never heard of him or his show The Kopycats. Jon Voight gave a rousing right-wing political speech, a real stunner. Col. North recognized Gold Star families, and called the college students up, just three from Georgia.

My daughters Cameron and Carly and a young man from Savannah were introduced, the reason for the concert. I was so proud of them, and of all the people who still show their support for military families, even as the troops are largely forgotten by so many.

Questions: I saw no real media coverage of this 20,000-person support-the-military/patriotic American event. Did you? Who decided this wasn’t newsworthy? And does it still matter?