Concert supports veterans

Anyone passing by the American Legion Tom Whitmore Post 28 in Green River Saturday night would have heard the building barely containing the music coming from within.

Inside, a packed house listened to local musicians, as well as those from Denver, Salt Lake City and Wisconsin as they hosted a benefit for veterans in the area. The American Legion hosted the fourth Music for Vets performance last weekend, which benefits the legion's Veteran's Relief Fund, a program providing cash grants to help veterans in need throughout the area.

Tom Niemic, the post's commander, said the fund helps veterans throughout the community, as well as helps traveling veterans who breakdown as they going through the area.

"We get a lot of calls from Little America," Niemic said.

He said they also work with the Archie Hay Post 24 in Rock Springs when it comes to assisting vets.

Members of the band Zamtrip have organized the performances since the first Music for Vets in Rock Springs. Kyle Zampedri, one of the band's members, said the event first started as a simple concert, but they shifted its focus to a veterans' benefit as a way to have support the community.

Kyle said they contacted other musicians they've met while touring, which helped bring more support for the concert and fill out the concert.

Niemic said the post had visitors from both Salt Lake City and Denver driving to Green River to support their favorite performers.

"We thought 'why not give back to the people who ensure we can live the life we do,'" Kyle's brother and bandmate Cory Zampedri said.

Zamtrips's focus on Green River came after Tom Whitmore Post 28 allowed the band to host their CD release party at the building.

"They treated us so well, we decided to give back to the post in Green River," the third Zampedri brother, Cody, said.

Kyle believes the event has outgrown the American Legion's building, but wants to keep the benefit in Green River next year and wants to continue supporting the Tom Whitmore Post. That commitment to Green River and the post stem from they community support they've received.

"We're trying to grow this thing and make it huge," Kyle said.