ClarksvilleNow.com Reporting
news@clarksvillenow.com
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Christian singer Michael W. Smith made a surprise visit to Clarksville on Wednesday, Dec. 3 to have lunch at Cracker Barrel with Staff Sergeant Rafael Panduro.
WKRN News 2 reports that Staff Sgt. Panduro is currently a platoon leader at Fort Campbell, and has served for over 15 years.
Smith gave Panduro and his wife Ursula $500 in Christmas shopping money on behalf of the restaurant chain, as well as backstage passes to his Nashville concert scheduled for Thursday night. See information about the show here.
Panduro has been a fan of Smith for 20 years.
“One of his songs was the first song I ever heard after I became a Christian,” Panduro said. “It’s amazing. I don’t know what to say. I’m just grateful to everybody who made this happen.”
*WKRN News 2 contributed to this report.