My 8 month old daughter Isabella with Gene... Babies can rock too!
-Veronica Child
We just finished watching the A&E episode of Family Jewels were you visit the VA in Long Beach. My daughter, Lindsay, took so much heart watching you and Sophie visit the vets she insisted we do something. My 9 year old is organizing a visit to the VA in Long Beach, through our church. I learned how to play bass listening to KISS records and watching how cool you were. 35 years later, my daughter looks at you and Sophie and sees you both as cool because you look out for our veterans. Thank you Gene for being a an eternal inspiration.
Response from Gene:
And a child shall lead them.
Hi
A few weeks ago I took my kids to the Hard Rock Hotel for a weekend getaway(from New Orleans) while we were there they found this display. It seems that the items in this case were the only things to survive Hurricane Katrina.
Also we stayed on the 7th floor which had the black and white Destroyer picture on the wall, the kids had a great time.
Colleen
Kiss Army Louisiana Division
Dear Gene Simmons:
I happened to be flipping channels last night Nov 10th and saw soldiers on the TV. My son just got back fom 13 months in Irag,third tour over in the Hellholes of Afghanistan and Irag.My heart just swelled when I heard you talking and visiting with War Veterans and singing a tribute to active members of the Military Forces. I cried like a baby as the show continued. I applaud you and your family for giving tribute to our sons and daughters who sacrifice it all to give us Freedom as you so eloquently spoke about it.My thanks as a Mom from a very smalll town - THANK-YOU from the bottom of my heart. If all celebrities gave a positive image to this Great Country we would be in a much better place.
Just a Military Mom<3
Linda Glennen
Mother of SGT Zachary L Travis
1325 AIR
Red Falcons
82nd Airborne
Fort Bragg, NC
Response from Gene:
Amen.
Dear Mr. Simmons and Family,
Thank you and your daughter for reaching out to us veterans, as a disabled sailor it..... well, it made me ball like a baby to be honest. My band and I write a lot of music expressing what the war is like day to day in hope of immortalizing those lost. But to see you and Sophie take to heart the lessons learned and the sacrifices made confirms my belief that I fought for all the right reasons. America! America! America! Got to go, can't see the keyboard through the tears. Again, thank you.
Very Respectfully
Clifford L. Rudder
Canaan NH
Gene,
I've read from a number of different sources that Richie Sambora auditioned for Kiss after Ace left. It's well known amongst many fans that Eddie Van Halen auditioned but I have not heard much about Richie Sambora auditioning for the band. Fact or myth?
Thanks,
Irakli
California
Response from Gene:
Fact.
I have a Girl Scout troop that is going to the Richmond, VA. Veterans Hospital the 1st Staurday in December to deliver Christmas Wreaths and Thank You cards to the Veterans there. I attached a copy of the card we are delivering.
After watching your Family Jewels episode on A&E, "Uncle Gene Wants You" my wife and I was wondering how we could get a copy of that tape for our troop to deliver to Hospital for them to show.
Our Holiday Wreathsand cards will bring some cheer but that episode shows the real purpose and support of their sacrifice and would be a great boost to their spirits. As a retired Navy Vet myself, it moved me.
Please let me know if there is any way we could get a copy of the DVD before we go to the VA hospital on Dec. 1st.
Our troop website is http://gst753.clubspaces.com if you want to see some of the other things our girls have done.
Thank You in advance for anything you can do to make our troops support of the Military a success.
Respectfully,
Fred Cannon
Vocelli's Pizza Marketing & Special Events Coordinator and Girl Scout Troop 753 02 Leader
Response from Gene:
This is the kind of thing that can brighten a Vet's day, believe me. They TOLD me so. Vets are real, living heroes. They aren't mythical stories we read about. They're real. And, they need to know we care. Go down to your local VA Hospital, and shake the hand of the real men and women who make America the greatest country in the world.
Thank You for your Service and Sacrifice
to ALL our Military Members
From Girl Scout Troops 753, 3407
Hi
I wanted to share this picture of my new truck that I recently purchased. I have been a fan since 1976 and I wanted to do something special a tribute to the GREATEST BAND EVER- KISS. I’m a manager at McDonald’s and every customer that I talk to in the drive thru loves the picture . If Kiss is planning a new tour please don’t forget about Louisiana !!! We need a Kiss Concert.
Colleen
KISS ARMY LOUISANA Division
Hi Gene
Did your views on marriage develop after you became rich and famous or did you never want to get married? Do you think you would feel differently if Kiss had never made it big?
Drew
Response from Gene:
I never wanted to get married. Before or since. I always want to have options. I only want to stay with you if I WANT to. Not because I HAVE to. That way I know it's real. The other way has financial, social and other repercussions I'm not willing to take.
Dear Mr. Simmons:
I don’t have a question, but I do want to say thank you very much for your episode on A&E where your daughter and you take time to visit Camp Pendleton and the veteran’s hospital. It meant very much to my husband and me all the things you said about those in uniform. My husband is a five time veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He has been gone so much over the past three years. We truly appreciate what you did to honor those in uniform on your show.
Most Appreciatively,
Nicole Katsikides
In the picture:
Captain Tom Katsikides (left) and Master Sergeant Mitch Green (now retired)
US Air Force
JSTARS
Robins AFB
While flying over Iraq on September 11, 2003
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