When the KISS: Freedom to Rock tour comes to the DCU Center in Worcester on Saturday, Sept. 3, local retired Marine Corps Master Sgt. Michelle Nelson, will be serving as a roadie for the day.

“I am very appreciative of the opportunity to be a Roadie for a day for KISS.  They have from the start always respected their fans & have given their all to them in their shows.  Their love of country is also reflective in this opportunity & their contributions to Hiring Our Heroes for the future of our service members & their families once they complete their service to our nation.”

It’s all part of a partnership between Hiring Our Heroes, KISS and the Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix) to salute military heroes across the country as part of the Freedom to Rock tour.

KISS will hire a military veteran or currently serving member of the national guard or reserve force to be a “Roadie for the Day” for each of the more than 30 U.S. concerts. In addition, KISS will donate a limited number of tickets to veterans in each community and distribute those tickets through VetTix.org.

“Our military heroes are called upon sometimes at a moment’s notice to deploy into harm’s way, and they drop everything to respond.  It’s fitting to honor these men and women in their hometowns as part of the Freedom to Rock tour,” said Eric Eversole, president of Hiring Our Heroes and vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

KISS founder Paul Stanley said, “KISS is celebrating our Freedom To Rock tour this summer; the same freedom that’s been upheld by our veterans and active duty service members.”
“We are proud to partner with HOH and Vet Tix to highlight the incredible commitment and sacrifices of hometown heroes serving in the National Guard and Reserve forces,” said KISS mastermind Gene Simmons. “Many of these heroes have given a lot – and some have given all – and we will honor them in every town we tour.”

“Getting the opportunity to partner with Hall of Fame rockers is an amazing opportunity,” said Mike Focareto, CEO of Vet Tix. “KISS fans get much more than live music and a pyrotechnics show; they get a chance to create unforgettable memories with their family and friends. We’re excited to make this experience possible to our Vet Tix family.”

Eligible Worcester-area veterans and service members received free tickets to the show given away through the national nonprofit Vet Tix. Veterans and service members can go to vettix.org to create a free account and receive notifications for future opportunities for free tickets in the area.