The “America’s Got Talent” crowd recently went wild when U.S. soldiers took the stage to sing a rendition of The Temptations’ “My Girl.” However, the reason for the heroes’ presence on the talent competition show is what prompted an emotional response.

Members of the Army’s 82nd Airborne All-American Chorus made an eye-catching entrance to the stage, marching together before letting their guard down and talking with the judges. Staff Sgt. Marcus Gilbert explained, “We hail from North Carolina. We represent the 19,000 men and women that support and serve the Airborne division.”

He said the ensemble was on the show to “win,” and the performance was explicitly dedicated to a fellow soldier who recently died.

Gilbert continued, “We wanted to dedicate this performance. Last week, we lost one of our soldiers, Specialist Elijah Crawford. So, we’re dedicating this performance to him and all the soldiers that have passed before him.”

The revelation visibly moved the audience, and the 82nd Airborne Chrous All-American Chorus started to sing. The crowd went wild.

The performance was posted early to social media and recently aired on “America’s Got Talent.” Gilbert told The Fayetteville Observer the audition happened this past spring, and he’s hoping fans of the show will enjoy it.

“It’s not the first time an Armed forces group has been on the show, but it is the first time the 82nd, which is known to deploy anywhere in the world within 18 hours, has been on it,” Gilbert said.