Above: Karen Lawrence prepares to sing the national anthem at the beginning of the Singing for the Soldiers event on Nov. 11, while the Green River Boys wait to perform. Lawrence, who is employed by the Polk County Board of Elections, is the mother of a soldier facing deployment and the wife of a disabled veteran. Singing for the Soldiers was the 12th such event held in Polk County over three years to collect items for the troops overseas. Below: Robert and Chris Carney prepare packages to send to Afghanistan after the Singing for the Soldiers event on Nov. 11. Items and money collected at the event filled 50 boxes, which were shipped recently from Polk County to a military chapel in Afghanistan for distribution. (photos submitted by James Metcalf)