Monday, February 17, 2025

Williamsburg veteran, Voices of Service move on to final round of America’s Got Talent

Williamsburg resident Ron Henry (far right) and three other active duty and retired military members -- together comprising a cappella group Voices of Service -- are in the running to win this year’s America’s Got Talent. (WYDaily/Courtesy of Trae Patton/NBC)
Williamsburg resident Ron Henry (far right) and three other active duty and retired military members  together comprising a cappella group Voices of Service  are in the running to win this year’s America’s Got Talent. (WYDaily/Courtesy of Trae Patton/NBC)

An Army veteran from Williamsburg has made it to the final round of America’s Got Talent.

Ron Henry and a cappella quartet Voices of Service were voted into the final round of America’s Got Talent Thursday after performing “Choke” by OneRepublic for AGT judges.

America’s Got Talent announced Thursday night in a news release that Voices of Service is one of five finalists for the 2019 season. 

“We are still … we’re still taking it all in,” Henry said from Los Angeles Friday. “We’re so overwhelmed just trying to process being here and being able to be on this platform. It’s been gratifying — we’re so happy to get this message out.”

The final live show will be on Sept. 17 and the winner will be announced Sept. 18.

Voices of Service has maintained the same goal since it’s been on America’s Got Talent: While winning would be a great opportunity, Henry has said, the group aims to spread a message of support to the veteran community and their families.

“There are so many people still hurting and coping in silence,” Henry said. “We want to be that voice for them, to bridge the gap… and let them know, most importantly, it’s OK to not be OK.”

Voices of Service is comprised of four veterans and active duty service members from Virginia including Staff Sgt. Henry, Sgt. 1st Class Jason Hanna, Master Sgt. Caleb Green and Sgt. Maj. Christal Rheams.

RELATED STORY: Meet the Williamsburg man, Army veteran competing in America’s Got Talent

Voices of Service performed “Choke” on Tuesday, the eve of Sept. 11. Henry said the group chose that song to dedicate to the families of those who have died, specifically with the families of 9/11 victims.

“They’re waking up every year and thinking about how they’re not here,” he added. “They’re sitting at the dinner table thinking about how their loved one isn’t here… they’re walking down the hallway at home and seeing photos of them.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnJgsMffoKQ&feature=youtu.be

Voices of Service is still in Los Angeles and is now focused on rehearsing for the final live show Sept. 17. 

The group hasn’t picked out a song yet, but wants to choose one that reaches out to “everyone in America who is coping and dealing with stress and anxiety.”

“We want to be that light for them and give them hope,” Henry said.

Sarah Fearing
Sarah Fearing
Sarah Fearing is the Assistant Editor at WYDaily. Sarah was born in the state of Maine, grew up along the coast, and attended college at the University of Maine at Orono. Sarah left Maine in October 2015 when she was offered a job at a newspaper in West Point, Va. Courts, crime, public safety and civil rights are among Sarah’s favorite topics to cover. She currently covers those topics in Williamsburg, James City County and York County. Sarah has been recognized by other news organizations, state agencies and civic groups for her coverage of a failing fire-rescue system, an aging agriculture industry and lack of oversight in horse rescue groups. In her free time, Sarah enjoys lazing around with her two cats, Salazar and Ruth, drinking copious amounts of coffee and driving places in her white truck.

Related Articles

MORE FROM AUTHOR