In April of this year, multi-platinum country music artist Mark Wills, in alliance with USA Cares (a non-profit national military assistance charity founded to assist post-9/11 military families in emotional health and recovery, and bearing the burdens of service with financial and advocacy support), officially introduced the Warrior Treatment Today “Crazy Being Home” campaign.

With the goal to elevate awareness nationwide surrounding the severity of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), Wills launched the “Crazy Being Home” website (www.crazybeinghome.com) with the multi-objective to reach out to, encourage and support America’s post-9/11 veterans, assist in raising funds for the PTSD and TBI programs and to serve as a communicative outlet for those who suffer to share their mutual stories.

A number of personal accounts appear as postings on the CrazyBeingHome.com site reinforcing the evident need for a public discussion outlet. Adding a second tier to the Crazy Being Home forum, Wills has added a video contest component, extending invitations to visitors, friends, fans and filmmakers to bring their stories to life in video format to demonstrate their support of our returning soldiers and their families working through the issues of PTSD and TBI.

Wills is encouraging folks to create their own original, visual story (music video) using the campaign theme song “Crazy Being Home” in the background. Entrants will receive a free download of the single and the winning video production will be featured on CrazyBeingHome.com as well as Mark Wills’ website. (See details, rules and regulations at crazybeinghome.com.)

Wills recorded the campaign theme song “Crazy Being Home” (written by Chris Lindsey, Brad Warren, Bret Warren and Robin Lindsey) as a tribute to our brothers and sisters of service. It appears on his new album (LOOKING FOR AMERICA) which was released in June; the cut will be released to country radio in October 2011.

For more information on Mark Wills and the “Crazy Being Home” Campaign, visit: www.markwills.com /or/ www.crazybeinghome.com. For more information on the USA Cares Warrior Treatment Today program visit: http://www.usacares.org.

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Mark Wills premiered his new album Looking for America with two special events on release day, June 21, 2011. The celebration schedule included an Opry in-store appearance where he visited with fans to personally sign the new album; the CD flew off the shelves—selling out. Following the in-store event, Mark Wills stepped out to take the historic stage of the Grand Ole Opry to play some of the tracks, a few for the very first time.

“It was a wonderful day to bring my new music to fans,’” Wills explains. “I am incredibly thankful for the support of Country music fans who came out to visit with me at the signing and traveled to watch my Opry performance.”

Wills went on to actualize a promise made to several wounded servicemen; earlier this year, Mark was introduced to three soldiers whose Blackhawk helicopter crashed in Iraq, one of whom is in a wheelchair as a result. After a spring show in Missouri, Mark played them “Crazy Being Home” and they were very emotional. He told them that the first time he played it live at the Opry he would invite them.

At the Opry show, the three men hung out backstage with Mark who then brought them out on stage to introduce them to the audience. All three thousand in attendance gave them a standing ovation for their service to the United States. Wills then played “Crazy Being Home” which had an amazing reaction and led to another standing ovation.

“I wish all our returning service men and women could have experienced the appreciation and love the audience gave them,” Mark Wills reveals. “I am humbled by their service and sacrifice. I’ve said before that I was compelled to record ‘Crazy Being Home’ and tonight reinforced that conviction. I hope everyone hears this song and understands how important our ability to give back to those that defend our freedoms truly is.”

Looking for America (distributed by Gracie Productions) features both the title cut (moving up the country charts at radio now) and the USA Cares Warrior Treatment Today campaign song, “Crazy Being Home” (www.crazybeinghome.com).

Country Girl wants you to be a Tattle Tale! Have you been to a country concert lately? Run into a country artist while out on the town? We want to hear all about your country music news and entertainment. Email me at countrygirl@countrymusictattletale.com