It's Monday and it's time for music!
Today I am joining up with other Music Moves Me bloggers (and you can join us at the linky above). We are a group of music loving bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday (or even later in the week). If you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please! Otherwise, your post link may be labeled "No Music" or even removed.) We have occasional theme weeks, but you are welcome to ignore the theme and use music of your choice. Why not join us? You don't have to sing, or play an instrument. All music lovers are welcome.
Today's theme is "Remembering our veterans with songs of inspiration, thanksgiving and praise".
This is a hard theme for me, because I am the daughter of a man who served in the Army Air Corp in World War II and struggled the rest of his life with the aftermath of a traumatic brain injury. Additionally, I have known or met several combat veterans over the years who struggled with alcohol abuse and/or PTSD.
Our veterans of all wars paid a high price for helping to safeguard the freedoms we've enjoyed, including those hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of soldiers who never returned from war. We must all treasure and safeguard these freedoms else we are in grave danger of losing them.
So I am going to go in a different direction today. This may be a hard post to read, but I hope you'll listen to at least one of the songs. TRIGGER ALERT: war violence.
First, a song from my childhood. I even bought the album this song was on. From 1966, Barry Sadler, and his hit Ballard of the Green Beret. This pays tribute to American soldiers but let me extend this to all those who fight for freedom.
Dire Straits and their 1985 song Brothers in Arms.
Big and Rich pay tribute to a battle fought on November 8th, 1965 with 8th of November. The song, in part, discusses some of the price our combat veterans pay.
Because this is the anniversary of Kristallnacht (November 9-10, 1938) I will include this song from Rush. This is 1984's Red Sector A, written by the son of Holocaust survivors.
Evil can start small, and if it is not stopped, it can end in unimaginable horror. The Holocaust was one such part of history. I grew up among some Holocaust survivors (including my best friend's parents, who were German Jews) and, while my spouse was in military service, we met a man who helped liberate one of the camps. This video is hard to watch, but I hope you will stick it out.
And that's a wrap.
Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me - hopefully, a happier episode.
...Brothers in Arms is an all time favorite of mine.
ReplyDelete“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
ReplyDeleteHolocaust footage never fails to horrify. Its history is taught in German schools, as it should be in all countries.
ReplyDeleteAs a Vietnam vet, I thank you for this tribute. People must remember that a soldier does not pick his enemy nor the cause for which he fights. He does not pick the location nor the time of the battle. He merely goes where he is deployed and attempts to accomplish the assigned mission. All of the decisions were made by people, in Washington, most of whom have never put on a uniform nor been on the battlefield. Thank you again for Remembering the Heros.
ReplyDeleteWar leaves scares we can't see or understand unless we've walked in these individuals shoes and many of us haven't. I'm thankful for your dad's service and the millions of others. You're so right evil starts small. You really haven't to fight from the beginning. If an evil person is running for dog catcher, don't put that him in office. It use to be evil doers hide their agenda but it's not like that anymore, it's in your face stuff. The solider your husband met who liberated one of the Holocaust camps had to be an honor. It's horrible how much Hitler got away with before his death.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your music. Thanks for sharing. Have a boogietastic week, my dear! xo
A beautiful and moving tribute, Alana! ♥ My father was a Korean War vet who also suffered from PTSD and alcoholism, so this day means a lot. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAs the daughter of a veteran and the wife of a veteran, I have a well-earned appreciation of the sacrifices that soldiers make in the service of country and a greater cause. Your musical tribute is well-chosen.
ReplyDeleteHi Alana I did reply earlier in the week but I must have done something wrong when hitting publish. Thank you for this amazing tribute to all soldiers and of course we must never forget the horrors of the Holocaust. 💜💜💜
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