Country Singer Gives Concert for FL Firefighters

May 22, 2019
The special concert by singer/songwriter Shane Owens was done as a thank you to Panama City firefighters for their efforts during Hurricane Michael in October.

PANAMA CITY, FL—Country music singer/songwriter Shane Owens has visited Panama City and Panama City Beach since he was a little boy growing up in Samson, Alabama. His visit to the town this week, he said, broke his heart to see the widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Michael, so he wanted to do something to bolster the spirits of the city's first responders.

"You can see it on TV, but until you get here, you don't realize how bad it really is," said Owens, who performed a mix of country standards and some of his new songs, including "Love to Try Them On." He added, "These guys and girls out here, they work endless hours keeping everybody safe, responding to emergencies. ... We just always like to give back and show them how much we appreciate what they do."

Panama City Fire Department Chief Alexander Baird welcomed Owens to Station 1 off U.S. Business 98 and gave him a short tour of the facility, which is under repair. The third floor, which housed the sleeping quarters, was badly damaged by Hurricane Michael. But all areas still show the ongoing renovation work, from bare concrete floors to freshly painted walls and new roofing. He noted that his crews not only work out of a disaster area, but every place they go is the same.

"When the tones go off and we answer a 9-1-1 call, we're responding to a disaster, to other people's homes that are a disaster," Baird said. "To make it even worse, when we go home, we're living in our own disaster."

Baird said it was important to morale to have someone like Owens take the time to show the firefighters that their hard work and dedication is appreciated. The mental health of the men and women under his command is a constant consideration, he added.

"There's a lot of stress on the guys," Baird said. "We're always reaching out to them, (saying) 'If you need something, let us know. Talk to us. Let's see what we can do to help you.' "

Owens joked with the crew while he performed, then he posed for photos with them beside one of the fire engines. He reiterated how impressed he was by the weight they carried on their shoulders.

"Everybody's pulling together," Owens said. "You can see they've already made a lot of progress cleaning up, but they've got a long way to go."

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©2019 The News Herald (Panama City, Fla.)

Visit The News Herald (Panama City, Fla.) at www.newsherald.com

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