Joe Walsh Brings Eagles Bandmates to Wichita for 9th Annual VetsAid Concert

On a chilly Saturday night in November, Joe Walsh stood under the lights of Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas, guitar slung low, and grinned at a crowd of more than 5,000 — many of them veterans in uniform, others wearing faded band tees, all there for one reason: to honor those who served. This wasn’t just another concert. It was the 9th Annual VetsAid Benefit ConcertIntrust Bank Arena, and for Walsh, a Wichita native and current guitarist for The Eagles, it felt like coming home — with a mission.

Roots and Resonance

Walsh didn’t just play here. He grew up here. Born and raised in Wichita, he remembers the smell of wheat fields and the sound of AM radio drifting through open windows. Now, decades later, he’s one of rock’s most respected figures — a member of The Eagles since 1975, songwriter of "Life in the Fast Lane," and the man behind the iconic riff of "Rocky Mountain Way." But none of that mattered on this night. What mattered was the man in the wheelchair watching from the front row. The veteran with two prosthetic legs tapping his foot. The mother holding her son’s hand, both wearing "KanVet United" hats.

The event, founded in 2017 by Walsh and his wife, Marjorie Bach, has quietly become one of the most effective veteran-focused charities in the Midwest. With no administrative fees deducted from donations, every dollar raised — from ticket sales to merchandise — goes directly to local organizations. So far, VetsAid has raised $4 million, according to a KMUW interview cited in the The Sunflower’s November 18 report. This year’s proceeds will support the Wichita Police and Fire Foundation, the Wichita Kansas Intertribal Warrior Society, and the KanVet United Organization — groups that provide housing, mental health counseling, job training, and peer support to veterans who often fall through the cracks.

"There’s No Politics in This at All"

Before the music started, Walsh took the stage for a brief press Q&A. "Tonight we’re going to have some fun, pay respects, enjoy fellowship — and reconnect with what America means to us," he said. "If tonight we can come together, honor our past while dreaming big for the future… then I’ve done my job." He didn’t mention Biden or Trump. Didn’t bring up VA wait times or military budgets. Instead, he talked about listening. "We go where the vets are," he said. "We find out what they need, and we take care of that to keep them going. It really is an American thing. There’s no politics in this at all. People come together." That sentiment echoed in the crowd. Jon E., commenting on The Sunflower’s article, corrected a misstatement about Walsh being a "former" Eagle — a small but telling detail. For many, Walsh isn’t just a rock star. He’s one of them. A guy who remembers what it’s like to be from here, who still drives through Wichita on his way to the studio, who knows the names of the local diners where veterans gather after shifts.

A Tradition of Giving Back

The 8th Annual VetsAid in 2024, held at UBS Arena in New York, featured Eric Church, Toto, and Kool & The Gang. This year’s lineup was more intimate — Walsh headlined with a mix of solo hits and Eagles classics, joined by local musicians and a surprise appearance by the Wichita High School East Jazz Band, who opened with "The Star-Spangled Banner."

The atmosphere was less stadium rock, more community hall. People hugged. Veterans exchanged stories. A 92-year-old WWII vet, Walter Henson, sat in the front row, wearing his Bronze Star. "I didn’t think anyone would remember," he told a reporter after the show. "But tonight? They remembered." Walsh’s approach is simple: don’t just raise money — build relationships. He visits veteran centers before each concert. He sits down with caseworkers. He asks: "What’s missing?" And then he fills it. Last year, VetsAid funded a mobile mental health unit for rural Kansas veterans. This year, it’s a new adaptive sports program for disabled vets.

Why This Matters

In a time when national discourse is fractured, VetsAid operates on a different frequency. It doesn’t ask you to pick a side. It just asks you to show up. And people do. Over 5,000 in Wichita. Nearly 10,000 in New York last year. The model is working — and it’s replicable.

"We’re not trying to fix everything," Walsh said backstage. "We’re just trying to make sure no vet feels invisible." That’s the quiet power of this event. It doesn’t need headlines. It doesn’t need hashtags. It just needs a stage, a guitar, and a community willing to listen.

What’s Next for VetsAid

Plans are already underway for the 10th anniversary in November 2026. Walsh says he’s in talks with Chris Stapleton and Gary Clark Jr. to join the lineup. There’s also talk of expanding to three cities next year — Wichita, Omaha, and Des Moines — with each event funding local veteran needs.

The nonprofit’s website now includes a "Needs List" where veterans can submit requests for things like wheelchairs, hearing aids, or even just a new pair of boots. Last month, 147 requests were fulfilled.

"It’s not about fame," Walsh told me. "It’s about fidelity. To the ones who served. To the ones who came home broken. To the ones who didn’t come home at all. We don’t forget them. And we never will."