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Strings nominated for a second Emmy

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WASHINGTON, D.C. --  Through a Total Force effort combining the talents of the Band of the Air Force Reserve, The United States Air Force Band's Air Force Strings, and members from The U.S. Air Force Academy Band, the 2011 "Holiday Notes from Home" production has been selected as one of four finalists in the category of "Entertainment" for an Emmy Award. The Band of the Air Force Reserve produced a one-hour holiday special for Armed Forces Network that featured Country Music Association group of the year Little Big Town and Lee Ann Womack. It was broadcast to 1.1 million service members and their families in 177 countries, ships and submarines at sea, and all U.S. embassies. The program was also selected to be broadcast 11 times on Great American Country cable network to more than 60 million households nationwide.

"Holiday Notes from Home" began nearly twenty years ago as a radio show, and over the years has grown into a full-fledged international television production nominated for an Emmy Award in 2009. This year's broadcast was hosted by Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner, Chief of Air Force Reserve. The program was produced by retired Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Dave Ballengee and conducted by Major Donald Schofield the commander of the Band of the Air Force Reserve.

This marks the sixth occasion the Air Force Strings have combined forces with the Band of the Reserve and some of the greatest stars in the country music, including Wynonna and Naomi Judd, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Lee Greenwood, Lonestar, Take 6 and Aaron Neville. The Strings were featured on radio broadcasts of the program in 2003 and 2005, and the television broadcasts since 2007, with the exception of 2010 when the Grand Ole Opry was closed due to severe flooding.

It was an honor for members of The U.S. Air Force Band from Washington, D.C. to once again join forces with Air Force band career field musicians for such a meaningful endeavor. This Emmy nomination represents a wonderful, but not surprising, result.