MANKATO —  The old conference room probably has never hosted a meeting quite like this.

On the second floor of The Free Press office building, adjacent to the newsroom, is a spartan but practical conference room. Perfect for staff meetings, group interviews and editorial meetings, but hardly an acoustic showpiece and certainly a rare host to national country music performers.

So, when Rockie Lynne pulled out his guitar halfway through the interview and started belting out a selection of  tunes from his “Songs for Soldiers” album, the impromptu studio could hardly contain the sound.

“I am a volunteer,” sang the returning headliner of the Tune it up for the Troops concert in Mankato on Aug. 26, “I choose to be right here.”

Breaking neither step nor strum, Lynne charged through portions of three more songs, playing to an audience of one interviewer, one publicity agent and four onlookers as if he were on stage at the Opry.

When he finally relented and put down his guitar (if only for the time being), Lynne's gregarious visage turned serious and his fast-plucking fingers settled in his lap.

These songs go back to 2003, he said, when he saw the scant news coverage of the death of Jeremy Wolfe, a 23-year-old Menomonie, Wis.-native who was killed when two helicopters collided during a training mission. Though the war in Iraq had barely started, Lynne worried the nation was already beginning to forget.

“It was just like another soldier was killed,” Lynne said. “The news was buried.”

So Lynne began writing songs. Upbeat songs about the land back home, wistful songs about boys becoming men and melancholy songs about sacrifice.

He presented the finished product to officials at Universal South Records -- for whom Lynne had also recorded his debut single “Lipstick” in 2005, which peaked at No. 29 on the country charts -- but they weren’t interested. Lynne left the label and began promoting the record himself.

He played those songs everywhere he could. He played at Walter Reed Medical Center, VFW conventions and at forward operating bases to crowds of 15. He practically gave away copies of the CD and still donates one-third of all proceeds to military-related charities.

Lynne’s song “Red, White and Blue” was chosen as the theme song for the Department of Defense’s America Supports You program. He also started an annual motorcycle ride to pay tribute to fallen soldiers.

“When I joined, it was peace time,” Lynne said. “But the kids at Mankato East or Mankato West, they know they’re going to Kandahar. That’s a different kind of brave.”

Lunne was adopted out of an orphanage at 4 years old by strict Baptist parents in North Carolina. At 18, Lynne joined the military, served his time and was relieved to get out. It was only later he realized the benefits of his service.

“I get up every morning and exercise, I work hard, I have respect,” he said. “I learned all that in the U.S. Army.”

Lynne learned a little bit about humility and having a sense of humor, too.

Until he was signed by Universal Records at age 39, Lynne played upward of 300 shows a year. At clubs and bars, he made a point to shake hands with every person in attendance.

Later, when Lynne had achieved a measure of success in his career and was invited to sing the national anthem at the White House, he admits he momentarily forgot the lyrics for the first -- and only -- time of his life.

“I forgot the dad-gum words,” he said. “My mind went totally blank.”

As for the Tune it up for the Troops concert in Mankato, Lynne said this year’s show will differ from last year.

This year’s edition, he said, will feature a “town-centric” flair that includes local performers integrated into his act, including Minnesota State University cheerleaders and a local honor guard from the American Legion.

Recognizable Mankato rockers the Steve Murphy Band will serve as the opening act.

“We have no political position; this isn’t pro-war or anti-war,” Lynne said. “We just want to say in a very clear and undeniable voice: ‘Thank you to the people in the Mankato area who have served.’”