National Anthem singer hits note that leads to PBA Board Members' heart
Randy Byrd - NCPBA President and Cary Chapter President
Aug 27, 2012
For the past two years, Ashley McLaurin has left the crowd spellbound by singing the national anthem at the Cary chapter’s ‘George Almond’ Officer of the Year awards banquet. An incredible talent, she discovered her love for music at age seven. Her first singing of the National Anthem was in the sixth grade at a middle school basketball game. In the ninth grade, Ashley was asked to sing at a Durham Bulls minor league baseball game. For the past several years, she has continued to develop her talent by singing in various choruses and taking private classical lessons. Her development has even led her to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina for their annual Christmas event. In 2007, Ashley joined a contemporary worship team at her church in Raleigh, NC. This opened-up a whole different avenue of singing for Ashley. She began to focus more on leading worship rather than just singing solos on occasion. Today, Ashley continues to sing and lead with various ministries and she performs at weddings and special events in the area.
Ashley was first asked to sing the National Anthem at the banquet in February of 2011. Ashley was friends with Officer Dustin Wright, who works for the Cary Police Department and is a Cary chapter board member. The Cary chapter board was looking for a singer and Dustin asked Ashley to sing and she readily agreed. She also accepted an invitation to be his date. Dustin and Ashley had dated previously, but at the time were just friends. The banquet that evening was a very special evening for everyone and set the tone for what was to come between them. Dustin knew Ashley was a talented singer, but this was the first time he had heard her sing alone and he began to see her in a different light. They both left the banquet knowing that something felt different between them, but neither wanted to admit it. It wasn’t long before they started dating again and became inseparable.
On February 18, 2012, Dustin and Ashley attended the banquet together for the second time. As Ashley sang the National anthem this time there was something remarkably different. This time she had a sparkling diamond engagement ring on her left hand. Dustin had recently proposed to her. They are to be married on September 9th of this year.