Trudy Andes

United States Ambassador to the Troops: Trudy Andes

United States Ambassador to the Troops:  Trudy Andes – condensed by Lisa Sinclair from a Biography by Patrick Kennedy

Trudy Andes was honored when thousands of veterans and service members joined together to recognize this American singer, songwriter, and humanitarian. Their presentation included a city wide "Friends Prayer Memorial", to pay tribute to the young songwriter. Included on the plaque are the words of the song which Trudy Andes wrote and appropriately named “Friends Prayer". The words were etched in Bronze and the plaque was later presented to the President of the United States, George W. Bush.

At this initial celebration where thousands of veterans from across the United States gathered, Larry Graham - State Commander of the Department of Kansas stated, as he introduced Trudy Andes, that she was a great asset to the United States Armed Forces. He compared her to the legendary Bob Hope for her service to the men and women defending freedom. At the later event, President Bush bestowed upon Trudy Andes the title “United States Ambassador to the Troops”.

Trudy Andes grew up on a ranch on the Kansas Oklahoma border. When reporters asked her child hood friends what they most remembered about her, nearly everyone quickly responded, that she was very well liked; she had a great sense of humor and a quick wit. Most remembered her as the homecoming queen, or a beauty queen. They remembered too, the model and or the cowgirl.

Trudy’s life took a turn after high school, when she became a singer/songwriter and recording artist. She went from the ranch in Kansas to the world stage, ending up in the Principality of Monaco, the country made famous by another American girl "Grace Kelly" (later becoming known to the world as Princess Grace of Monaco). Trudy launched her first CD "Always on My Mind" from Monaco, and embarked on a sold out World Tour, which lead to her second CD “Trudy Andes World Tour - Live”, which featured the song “Friends Prayer”. The song was voted to be THE OFFICIAL INTERNATIONAL ANTHEM was dedicated to the men and women defending freedom around the world.

A few years later, Trudy Andes was the headlining act for a charity fundraiser. Former President Gerald Ford was the honorary chairman. The event was in Palm Desert California. There, she met people and developed friendships, which would develop and cause her to release a third CD:”Dedicated to the United States Troops”. This CD, not just the song “Friend’s Prayer” is her official dedication to the United States Armed Forces and their families. Just like another famous Kansan; Dwight D. Eisenhower, Trudy Andes has traveled around the world, from the Palaces of Europe to the cowboys’ camp fires in Kansas. She is one American from Kansas that has not lost sight of her roots or the men and women defending the freedom of the United States of America.