Concert this Saturday will benefit veterans

Weiser High School student Kali Branstetter has organized a full evening of entertainment on Saturday with the goal of raising money for veterans.

 This is the second year that Branstetter, through the organization she founded, “In Harmony: Helping America’s Heroes Through Music,” will be putting on a benefit concert and presenting a military hero award. 

 The concert will be held at the Weiser High School auditorium on Saturday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 for ages 10 and under and $10 for adults and available at the door. All proceeds from the evening’s concert will go to the Freedom Isn’t Free Veteran Hunt.

 Kali, with help from her mom Kelley, has lined up some talented performers, including an appearance by Maddie Zahm, a Boise resident and special education teacher who was an American Idol top 48 contestant this year. Idol judge Katy Perry said Zahm had “an impressive set of pipes.”

 Branstetter said she knew Zahm lived in Boise and thought it would be kind of cool to invite her to perform at the benefit concert. She sent Zahm a message and waited for a response. It took a little while, but Zahm said she would be delighted to come out to Weiser and perform.

 Branstetter, 16, a musician and talented fiddle player, has pledged to organize a concert to benefit veterans organizations for four years. This Saturday’s event will be the second of four concerts she has planned.

 Along with musical performers, the Boy Scouts will pay tribute to veterans and the upcoming Veterans Day. The Blacklights, a group under the director of music teacher Victoria Arriero-Thomas, will sing the national anthem. Talented guitarist Lacey Willet is scheduled to perform, among other acts. Local business owner Patrick Nauman will once again emcee the concert. 

 The concert also will feature the presentation of a special Military Hero Award. Nominations for the award are open to any veteran, active duty, guard or reserve military member that resides in the Treasure Valley. The recipent of this year’s award is a secret until the concert.

 Branstetter is happy to put her youthful energy and talent to work for the benefit of veterans. For her, doing something for military veterans is personal. Her brother Kenneth served in Afghanistan with the U.S. Marines. Her grandfather also was in the military and served in Vietnam.

 She has been playing the fiddle for audiences since age eight and donating money to veterans organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project since she was about 10 years old. That organization helped her brother out when he was evacuated from Afghanistan, she said.

 Working for veterans has inspired her to become a mental health counselor and possibly work at a VA hospital as a future career. She is also involved in sports at WHS and holds the title of Miss Western Idaho Outstanding Teen.

 All of the proceeds from this Saturday’s concert will go to the Freedom Isn’t Free Veteran Hunt. The program gives military veterans the chance to go hunting in the great outdoors and is now in its seventh year. To date, more than 414 veterans have gone on hunts with all the expenses taken care of through donations.  

 The hunt is open to veterans, active duty and members of Gold Star families. The hunts are held all over, including going after deer in Texas and pheasants in Weiser. The veterans hunting program has been featured on the Outdoor Channel. The organization has a website and veterans can apply for a hunt. 

 In 2017, Branstetter organized the first-ever “In Harmony: Helping America’s Heroes Through Music” benefit concert in Weiser and pledged 100 percent of ticket sales to the veterans organization, Wyakin Foundation. 

 The Idaho-based foundation helps wounded and injured veterans find success in civilian life through education, development and guidance.