Steve Blaze plays "Take the Bullet" with the Air Force guitar April 21, 2012, at the Riverside Warehouse in Shreveport, La. Blaze worked with Maj. Henry Cecil and guitar maker John Guilford to have the guitar built to honor nine Airmen who were killed April 27, 2010, at the Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan. After Lillian Axe tours with the guitar, it will be raffled off with the proceeds going toward the Air Advisor Memorial. Blaze is the lead guitarist and songwriter for Lillian Axe, and Cecil is an Air Force representative to the Federal Aviation Administration in Fort Worth, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chris Powell)
Maj. Henry Cecil (right) talks to the audience about the background of why the Air Force guitar was built as Lillian Axe lead guitarist Steve Blaze looks on April 21, 2012, at the Riverside Warehouse in Shreveport, La. Cecil and Blaze collaborated with guitar maker John Guilford to build the guitar to honor nine Airmen who were killed April 27, 2010, at the Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan. After Lillian Axe tours with the guitar, it will be raffled off with the proceeds going toward the Air Advisor Memorial. Cecil is an Air Force representative to the Federal Aviation Administration in Fort Worth, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chris Powell)
4/25/2012 - FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) -- An Air Force guitar is making its rounds across the U.S. with rock band Lillian Axe after an Airman and the band's lead guitarist collaborated on a way to honor nine Airmen who were killed April 27, 2011, at the Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan.
Maj. Henry Cecil, an Air Force representative to the Federal Aviation Administration in Fort Worth, Texas, and Steve Blaze, the band's lead guitarist and song writer, teamed up with guitar maker John Guilford to have the guitar made. After Lillian Axe tours with the guitar, Cecil and the band plan to raffle it off with the proceeds going to the Air Advisor Memorial.
"I served in Afghanistan in 2010 as an air advisor in Kabul," Cecil said. "I knew three of them very well, and (Capt. Nylander) happened to be my roommate for the last five or six weeks I was there."
Losing his fellow Airmen had a huge impact on the major, and he said he was inspired to raise money for the families of the Airmen by past movements that raised millions of dollars.
"One day, Steve and I were talking on the phone, and I asked him if he thought we could get John Guilford to build an Air Force guitar that we could raffle off to help raise money for the families," Cecil said. "Steve didn't even let me finish the sentence before he said yes. Then, I called John, and he jumped in with both feet, and it was very fun to work with him because I could hear his excitement over the phone.
"(The design of the guitar) evolved; it just wasn't one idea and there it is," he explained. "We worked together over many and many phone calls. If he ran into a problem or wasn't quite sure about something, we solved it over the phone. The guitar is exactly what I envisioned."
The front of the guitar includes a portion of Cecil's Airman Battle Uniform that he wore while deployed to Afghanistan and has the words "U.S. Air Force" on the fingerboard in mother-of-pearl inlay.
"We have a great appreciation of our military at all levels, from the guy at the desk to the guys in the field, for what they've done for this country," Blaze said. "When he asked me, I thought it was an honor, and I thanked him for the opportunity."
The back of the guitar has the names of the Airmen who were killed: Lt. Col. Frank D. Bryant Jr., Maj. Philip D. Ambard, Maj. Jeffrey O. Ausborn, Maj. David L. Brodeur, Maj. Raymond G. Estelle, Maj. Charles A. Ransom, Capt. Nathan J. Nylander, retired Lt. Col. James Mclaughlin and Master Sgt. Tara R. Brown.
"It's as much a work of art as it is a musical instrument, and I can't think of a finer way to honor those (Airmen)," said Guilford, who performed all the labor on the guitar for free. "It's a beautiful opportunity."
The major said he's been following Lillian Axe for more than 24 years, but his and Blaze's friendship didn't blossom until a few years ago.
"I talked to Steve for a minute or two at numerous shows over the years, but our friendship really didn't come about until I was deployed, and in September (2010), they came out with a new album called 'Deep Red Shadows,' Cecil said. "I finally got the copies in and opened them up all excited and started playing it on my computer. I opened up the liner notes and was flipping through them when I saw on the last page a song (titled 'Take the Bullet') dedicated to the military."
It was then that Cecil knew he had to contact Blaze to thank him, so he emailed him and told him he was a longtime fan and that one of his CDs made it to the warzone. He wanted to show his appreciation to the band, so he flew a flag on all the Afghan air force airframes and had pilots sign the CD's artwork.
"He sent me the American flag, some wonderful coins, pictures of the mission and even Gen. David Petraeus' autograph on one of my CDs," Blaze said. "I thought it was so cool, and then we started developing a friendship, and he came down when he was back in the States and met the band, and now he's like part of the crew."
After Guilford completed work on the guitar, he drove it from his shop in Glasford, Ill., to unveil it at the Dallas International Guitar Festival in Dallas on April 19 before Blaze took it on stage for his first performance with it April 21 at the Riverside Warehouse in Shreveport, La.
Blaze, who plans to only use the Air Force guitar when he plays "Take the Bullet," has a message for the people thinking of buying a raffle ticket or just donating money to the Air Advisor Memorial.
"Don't worry about the guitar, let's go out and donate the money (to help) these families and 32 kids who lost a parent who were taking care of other people," Blaze said. "You could win an amazing guitar, but more importantly, you're helping out in a big way."
(Editor's note: We have made sure to add Master Sgt. Tara R. Brown to the list of the fallen. She is in fact listed on the guitar. We apologize for the for the mistake and meant no disrespect to the sergeant.)
Comments
8/10/2012 7:54:57 PM ET You can see the guitar at www.lillianaxe.com and enter the raffle at www.airforceguitar.com. I am proud to have purchased numerous raffle tickets in honor of the fallen. I will keep promoting this guitar in hopes of raising more money for the children left behind. This is a great cause and a great band. Thanks to Mjr. Cecil.
Malcolm D., HumbleTx
5/1/2012 6:58:41 AM ET This is one of the things I love about metal--the bands really support the military and their families. The only thing I'd like to see added to the article is some detailed photos of the guitar the brief shots in the video make it look pretty cool.
Spastic Lab Rat, Indianapolis IN
4/30/2012 3:21:15 PM ET What a really creative way to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Catherine Scharping, Tyndall AFB
4/30/2012 1:24:44 PM ET Kudos to all involved in this project. It's a worthy one. I watched Lillian Axe perform several times in the early 90's when they were playing the San Antonio circut great and classy band. Growing up about 20 miles north of Glasford Il it is great to see a small town hero build a guitar for this cause. Thank you Maj Cecil for getting this project off the ground.
MSgt Williams, Shaw SC
4/30/2012 11:54:39 AM ET This is Steve Blaze from Lillian Axe. It is an honor to present this guitar to the world and spread the message it bears. On behalf of Lillian Axe, I wish to thank the Air Force and the sacrifices made for our country and the world. We will proudly take this guitar throughout the world and scream its message with every note I play. Also, kudos to Major Henry Cecil who's brainchild this dedication is. He is a true representation of honor and character and the Air Force should be proud to call him its own.
Steve Blaze, Louisiana
4/27/2012 3:42:11 PM ET Finally an officer who admitted a mistake and taking responsibility to get it corrected.
LAC, LAFB TX
4/27/2012 12:41:20 PM ET It was an Honor to pay our respects to Maj. Philip D. Ambard here at the Academy. Very emotional moment for me and my fellow HG members Not to mention the entire Academy. Also MSgt Tara Brown was mentioned. The back of the guitar has the names of the Airmen who were killed Lt. Col. Frank D. Bryant Jr. Maj. Philip D. Ambard Maj. Jeffrey O. Ausborn Maj. David L. Brodeur Maj. Raymond G. Estelle Maj. Charles A. Ransom Capt. Nathan J. Nylander retired Lt. Col. James Mclaughlin and Master Sgt. Tara R. Brown
Shelly, USAFA
4/26/2012 11:12:55 PM ET MSgt Brown's name is on the back of the guitar. The omission and error on the date in the article is an honest mistake. I will contact TSgt Powell to get this corrected immediately. This was definitely not intentional.
Maj Cecil, Fort Worth TX
4/26/2012 2:36:46 PM ET If this article is about the eight active duty service members that died when an AFG soldierguard shot them at Kabul International Airport. This happened in Apr 2011 not Apr 2010 and MSgt Tara Brown was one of them, she may noy have died at the scene but passed away some hours later. Please don't forget her; she deserved to be remembered and recognized in this article as well in everyany other media that covered that tragedy.
Theresa, Colorado
4/25/2012 7:22:59 PM ET Why would MSgt Brown be forgotten on this dedication both in the article and on the guitar? The Air Advisor Memorial page lists her with the other eight fallen. Hopefully just a PA typo and not missing from the real guitar. Serious foul if it is.
Lt Col C., Alaska
4/25/2012 5:04:19 PM ET Don't forget that Master Sgt. Tara R. Brown was killed as well.
