Lilian Garcia's Tribute to the Troops experience
By Kara A. Medalis
December 21, 2006
Lilian Garcia took a few moments to speak candidly with WWE.com about her life-changing experience at WWE's Tribute to the Troops in Iraq. From singing the National Anthem to visiting wounded soldiers, Garcia called her experience "amazing."
"This is my third trip - twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. I'm always the first in line to go. I already told Vince I want to go next year," Garcia said. "It is such an experience. It's unforgettable. It's life-changing."
On their way to Iraq, the Superstars stopped in Germany to visit wounded soldiers. Garcia said the soldiers in the military hospital never once complained about their injuries, and most said they wanted to return to Iraq with their platoons.
"I was like, 'Wow!' That is the home of the brave, right there," Garcia said.
Lilian explained that the soldiers warmly welcomed the Superstars to Iraq, but they were in disbelief to actually see them in person.
"Some of them said they heard rumors that we were coming, but they didn't know if we'd make the trip," Garcia continued.
Once in Iraq, the Superstars visited different bases to spend time with the troops. Garcia said she went to a particular base where the soldiers claimed it was one of Iraq's most dangerous and is rarely visited.
"It felt good to say, 'Yeah, you know what? It's about time somebody does come here and say thank you.'
"We don't just shake their hands. We sit there and we talk to them, we joke around with them. We just really stay there and we mingle with them and interact. They're in disbelief that we've come there and we've done this for them."
The Raw ring announcer's most memorable moment of the trip was singing the National Anthem for the troops. Normally she sings it acapella, but this year it was set to music. For Garcia, the experience was very emotional, and she equals it only to the time she sang at Raw on Sept. 13, 2001, just days after the Sept. 11 attacks.
"It was just that moment, standing there, with all the soldiers around, in the middle of Iraq, seeing them all saluting, with tears in their eyes, and singing the song and going, 'This is what this song is all about.' It doesn't take more meaning than being right there, in the middle of the ring and singing it," an emotional Garcia said.
After the show, Garcia took a few moments alone to reflect on the enormity of the situation and what it meant to her."
"For me, I got very, very emotional. After the show, I was winding down, just reflecting back. I got extremely emotional," she revealed. "I felt so honored that I was able to do that. I felt every bit of that song, of what it's supposed to mean."
Garcia explained that some of the troops approached her and said they don't often get to hear the National Anthem sung live while stationed in Iraq.
"One of the soldiers came to me to thank me. To sing 'the home of the brave' and to be there with all those brave soldiers, it was unreal. Indescribable," she said.
Garcia made a point to thank the soldiers again for everything they've done and given up in their lives. She wanted to extend a thanks to the troops' families, too.
"Sometimes it's harder to be left behind. When you don't know what's going on and your loved one is in a dangerous place every day, sometimes your mind works even harder than the soldier himself who is there, facing it every day.
"They're giving up having their loved ones home for the holidays. There were tons of soldiers who were telling me, 'You know what? I get to go home in four months and see my newborn and I haven't seen him yet. He's already eight months old.' " Garcia exclaimed.
She hoped sharing her Iraq experience with WWE.com would encourage WWE fans to watch Tribute to the Troops on Monday, Christmas night, at 9 on the USA network.
"It's such a great thing to be a part of, being able to put a smile on the soldiers' faces and being a morale booster for them, and a piece of home coming to them. I'll tell you there's no feeling like it in the world," she smiled.
"That's the least we can do - take a soldier's hand and say thank you."
Reference: WWE.com
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