My father was a disabled veteran of World War II, and Memorial Day brings back memories.
When I was growing up, people used to decorate the graves of war dead. Someone I work with shared a memory of her growing up in a small town near Binghamton, New York, where there would be a parade on Memorial Day and then people would throw lilacs into the river.
But now, it's time for some music.
Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers? We call ourselves 4Mers and this is who we are:
The Head 4M'er (Engineer) is XmasDolly. Her co-conductors are: ♥Callie of JAmerican Spice♥, (who right now is doing on and off visits) and ♥Stacy of Stacy Uncorked♥ Also, ♥Cathy from Curious as a Cathy♥ and ♥Michelle from Michelle's Musings and Merriment♥. And, ahem...me.
There is one piece of music for Memorial Day I want to share with you today.
"Taps" is a bugle call played on various military occasions, including becoming a standard at military burials. There are various theories of its origin, and how its name originated, but we do know it originated during the United States Civil War with Union troops, and spread into use by both sides in this war.
My summer camp used to play "Taps" when it was lights out for the campers (there were some military elements in the camp) and this song is wrapped up in many memories for me.)
Online, I also found this rewrite of the classic song "Halleluyah", honoring our veterans.
And finally, I grew up during the Vietnam War. In honor of those I know who served there, Paul Hardcastle's "19".
I am not a "poetry person" (although there are a couple of poets I do enjoy) but this poem always touches my heart. Written by a Canadian soldier in 1915 upon the battle death of his friend in Flanders, Belgium, during World War I.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
John McCrae
Next week (no self promotion here) I am the guest conductor setting the theme - I hope you come back and enjoy what the 4Mers do with it. See you then!
An especially great piece with fantastic music, today!
ReplyDeleteI learned that poem too in grade school and at my YMCA overnight camp, Taps was played for lights out and Reveille for getting up in the morning. I have read that there are not enough bugle players who can play Taps so it is recorded and the trumpet player is lip syncing!
ReplyDeleteNice Memorial Day post. My dad served in WWII and was lucky to go on the Honor Flight a year before he died.
ReplyDeleteThat first one is a favorite of mine it really touches the heart & I don't think I ever heard the second one, but it's really something to listen too & the video is phenomenal! Thanks for sharing them. My brother was in the Viet Nam war, but he was on a supply ship & he made it home, but he passed on of a massive heart attack at the age of 44. I miss him. Anyway, have a great day my friend. Big hugs......
ReplyDeleteTaps gets me every time! My grandfather served in WWI, my dad in WWII, and I had two brothers that served in Vietnam. Beautiful tribute.
ReplyDelete~Mary
Jingle Jangle Jungle
Beautiful songs and thanks for posting Flanders Fields. It is a beautiful poem.
ReplyDeleteGood choices for today! Paul Hardcastle is a favorite of mine, but I hadn't heard that one.
ReplyDeleteThanks for remembering and honoring our veterans! xoxox, Brenda
ReplyDeleteAlana,
ReplyDeleteWhile visiting commenters today, Mia (Copper Cranes) shared In Flanders Field with Leonard Cohen reciting it. This is the first time for me to read/hear this powerful piece of poetry. You and I are the same age, so I can relate to the Vietnam conflict. I had three uncles who served in that war. Thankfully, God brought the all home safely. Unfortunately, many did not. That's the ugly truth of war, though. I'm ever grateful for all who serve and respect the millions who gave their lives in service of our country. I enjoyed your Memorial Day tribute through mewsic, my friend. Have a good week!
HI Alana,
ReplyDeleteWonderful Memorial Day post! I have always loved the song "Hallelujuh" but I never heard the Veterans version. Very nice! That song just always gives me chills. It's an incredibly beautiful song. And it will be stuck in my head all week...I don't mind that at all!
Of course Taps gets me too...and usually makes me shed a tear or two or three...
I never heard Paul Hardcastle's "19" song. It's hard-hitting. Like you, I grew up during the Vietnam War and know many who served there. When I was in college, there was a group of Nam vets, many who also were students at the college, and they met weekly in an upstairs room of the bar I used to hang out in. I got to know many of them and dated a few guys who served there as well. All war is ugly but this one in particular was massively ugly. So many of our guys came back messed up. And I think that's what always drew me to finding out more about that war and the experiences there.
In 1979, my final year in high school, I was accepted into a national journalism program at Blair Academy in New Jersey. There were only 40 chosen from around the US. It was a 5-week summer program, very intense. One of our major projects of the program was to write a feature article on any subject of our choosing. This was during the time of the gasoline crisis and some kids were focusing their articles on the gas shortage, the rationing, the long lines at the gas stations and all things OPEC. Others did articles on drug addiction, etc. I decided to do my feature article on Vietnam Vets and how they integrated back into society when they returned home. I had to scour this tiny town in search of Nam vets to interview and I was only able to find three, but it gave me well-rounded perspectives. At the end of the course, we published a paper that was available for purchase in the town. I'm proud to say that my story was honored as the best feature of all submissions. I still have that paper. I haven't gone back and read the article in quite some time but maybe I'll pull it out this week and do just that...
Thanks for the reminder of what Memorial Day is all about.
Excellent songs you showcased.
Enjoy the rest of your week,
Michele at Angels Bark
Wonderful song choices for Memorial Day, Alana! I loved every one! Hope you're having a great weekend! :)
ReplyDeleteI bet that was a beautiful sight to see the river with lilacs like that.
ReplyDeleteVery good musical tribute.
Thanks for sharing.
Hope you have had a good week.