U.S. Army Goes to New Orleans for the Essence Festival

The U.S. Army is on the scene at this weekend's Essence Music Festival in New Orleans. Running July 5-9 at the Louisiana Superdome and the New Orleans Convention Center, the event has scheduled performances by Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige and D'Angelo.

The Army will participate in an education empowerment panel that will address the question "how prepared are America's youth to compete in the technology age?"

"The Army is excited to showcase and talk to festival attendees about the wide range of leadership, high tech, science, engineering and educational opportunities available for the best and brightest young Americans," said Maj. Gen. Marcia Anderson, the nation's highest ranking African-American female Soldier in the Army.  "The Essence Music Festival provides an excellent opportunity for Soldiers to connect with a very important audience of mothers, families and prospects."

The festival is sponsored by Essence Magazine, a publication that focuses on an African American audience, and has been held every year since 1996.