General Dempsey Joins From the Top in Recognizing Military Connected Youth!

In this week’s episode of From the Top, we teamed up with the Military Child Education Coalition to celebrate the talented and hardworking children of America’s service men and women. These fantastic performers shared the ups and downs of military life, from living on US bases in Germany and Belgium to dealing with a parent in combat. We also got to reconnect with From the Top alum Elizabeth (Diener) McGinniss who has chosen a wonderful career in music and the military as a Staff Sergent in the Pershing’s Own United States Army Band.

What’s more…while taping this episode in Grapevine, Texas in June, we met the Honorable General Martin E Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“In June, I had the pleasure of meeting some very talented young musicians, the sons and daughters of U.S. service members, as well as some members of ‘Pershing’s Own’ Army Band — one of whom is a ‘From the Top’ alum,” said Gen. Dempsey. “We watched them rehearse for a concert, and boy, are they gifted!  Music is such a powerful  tool, and it’s been a big part of my life since I was a kid.”

After greeting cast and crew, the General treated us to a fabulous performance of Sinatra’s “My Kind of Town”.

Check it out:

Meet one of this week’s performers: Dominic Giardino, an 18-year-old clarinet player, whose father is a recently retired Navy helicopter pilot and has a brother in the Marines. Dominic shared with us his passion for military musical reenactment and military bands!

Don’t miss this episode!