Brantley Gilbert provided the high point of Wednesday night's (Sept. 16) Chattanooga Unite: A Tribute on the River benefit concert, performing a heartfelt version of "One Hell of an Amen."

The event honored those who lost their lives in the shootings at a military recruiting center and Navy-Marine training center in Chattanooga, Tenn., on July 16. It took place two months to the day after that senseless event, paying tribute to U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. David Wyatt, U.S. Marine Sgt. Carson Holmquist, U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Skip Wells and U.S. Navy Petty Officer Randall Smith, who were murdered that day.

Trace Adkins, Colt Ford and Aaron Lewis also performed at the event, which Gilbert says grew from a small idea.

“It started off really small as an intimate, acoustic event,” he tells WTVC, “and as the thought process and time went along, we just thought the families and community deserved a more grand gesture.”

In the end, the tribute included a parade, a memorial service, a church choir, a flyover from the Blue Angels, a performance by Harry Connick Jr. and fireworks display, all hosted by Samuel L. Jackson. Gilbert held a special meet and greet for families who lost their loved ones in the shootings, and some of those family members even ended up onstage at various points throughout the night. At the end of his passionate performance of "One Hell of an Amen," Gilbert recited the names of the five victims and invited the crowd to join him in taking a moment to remember them.

“Put your finger in the air one time,” he urged. “Tell ‘em you love ‘em, that you miss ‘em, and we’ll see ‘em again soon. God bless y’all, Chattanooga."

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