Marines bring the band to Africa

By Michelle Tan - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Feb 15, 2008 9:25:05 EST

DAMERJOG, Djibouti – Most of the kids couldn’t speak English, but they had no trouble dancing along to the American music that filled their village.

Members of “Thunder Roll,” one of Central Air Force’s two bands, performed for the kids for more than an hour Monday morning, playing everything from The Clash to Smash Mouth.

The village of Damerjog is less than 20 minutes from Camp Lemonier, the primary U.S. military base here, and the Marines who conduct base security often visit Damerjog and the other surrounding villages in an effort to get to know the local residents.

The Marines brought the band, which belongs to the Georgia Air National Guard, to Damerjog for Monday’s performance.

“It’s all about relationships,” said Marine Capt. Christopher Crim, commanding officer of B Battery, 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, of Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Crim and his Marines visit four local villages at least once a week. They play soccer with the kids, set up movie nights, hand out school supplies, help repair water reservoirs and simply spend time with the villagers.

“The purpose of this is quite simple: to gain an appreciation of their culture and build relationships,” he said. “The simple things go the farthest, school supplies, flip flops, things that are useful to everyday life.”

Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Larry Winner, one of the band members, got into the mix and danced with the children during the performance.

“At first I was a little apprehensive, but we saw how they were reacting,” Winner said. “When you look into their eyes you could see a connection. The music was just lighting them up.”

Winner said he was pleasantly surprised by the enthusiastic reception the band received.

“Music truly is the universal language,” he said. “That’s an old cliché but it’s true. Everyone can relate to the beat.”

Multimedia
Audio and photos from the bands performance
Source

On My Watch Tonight

U.S. Marine Video made by II MEF. Song by Marine Maj. Mike Corrado. Please visit www.mikecorrado.com

The Taliban Song - Toby Keith

*Warning: language

"19" by Waycross

This is a great song and really hits home.

“The Commandant’s Own” takes BIG sound to State Fair of Texas

Master Gunnery Sgt. Mark Miller, U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps drum major, conducts the unit at the grand opening of the State Fair of Texas, Sept. 28. The Drum and Bugle Corps, or “The Commandant’s Own,” made its 42nd annual appearance at the fair, performing for thousands, more than three times each day, from Sept. 28 through Oct. 12. Photo by: Cpl. John J. Parry

Oct. 12, 2007; Submitted on: 10/17/2007 04:33:52 PM ;

Story ID#: 20071017163352

By Cpl. John J. Parry, Marine Barracks 8th & I

MARINE BARRACKS WASHINGTON (Oct. 12, 2007) -- Everything is bigger in Texas, as the saying goes, so when the organizers of the State Fair of Texas needed a military musical unit, they called one of the biggest and best known – The U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps.“The Commandant’s Own,” making its 42nd annual appearance, answered the call and performed at the State Fair of Texas, in Dallas, Sept. 28 through Oct. 12.The grand opening for the biggest fair in the country began with a parade on Main Street, with the Drum and Bugle Corps leading the way. The unit marched past magnificent skyscrapers and sidewalks lined with enthusiastic crowds. Along the way, they played hallmark songs of the Marine Corps, such as the “Marines’ Hymn” and the official march of the Marines, “Semper Fidelis.”“They don’t even flinch,” said Klyde Knudson, an Army veteran of World War II and the Korean War. “I get tears in my eyes when I see the precision of these Marines.” Once the opening day parade was complete the Drum and Bugle Corps continued on to the fair grounds where they would perform throughout the next two weeks. The Marines in their red dress uniforms began each day with a march under the blistering heat of the Texas sun to Marine Corps Square. The Drum and Bugle Corps’ cadence echoed throughout the fair grounds on their way to play concerts at the square. At the site, located on the west side of the fair, just over 1,000 patriotic fans came each day to see the Marines in action.During each performance, “The Commandant’s Own” played a large variety of songs that include classics, such as the official march of the United States, “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” by John Phillip Sousa and present day popular music heard in movies and on the radio.For Jeannie Bush, a native of Dallas, she thought the modern songs played, such as James Blunt’s “Your Beautiful,” were great. However, it was the patriotic songs she held closest to her heart.“I get excited because it’s not everyday we see Marines in Texas,” Bush said. “Songs like the national anthem and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” remind me of all those who are fighting to keep our nation safe.”Midway through each performance, Chief Warrant Officer Brian Dix, the director of “The Commandant’s Own,” would educate the crowd about the history of the Marine Corps and the unit.“What are those badges you’re wearing?” asked a member of the audience.“They’re not badges, they’re medals,” said the smiling Dix, creating an uproar of laughter among those in attendance. “Unit citations go over the right side and personal decorations over the heart,” he said. For being good sports, the audience members were awarded a CD with music of the Drum and Bugle Corps. “Come on and let these Marines know what a Texas audience sounds like!” Dix would say, and without hesitation, the audience would rise and let out a deafening applause.Upon completion of each concert, the Marines marched to the Hall of State, a National Historic Place that commemorates the rich history of the Lone Star State, for Evening Retreat. The patriotic people of Texas never failed to stand proudly and place their hand over their hearts in respect of the national anthem and the retirement of the colors each day. After Evening Retreat, the unit took its rightful place leading the Starlight Parade. The parade passed some of the most symbolic features on the grounds, including the Cotton Bowl, North America’s tallest ferris wheel, standing at 212 feet, and the birthplace of the corny dog. In 1961, Jim Skinner, the director of special events, invited “The Commandant’s Own” to open the fair and enjoyed the Marines so much, he fought to get them back to the grounds. In 1965, his persistence was rewarded when the Drum and Bugle Corps came back and was back to stay!“I think they are an outstanding unit that reflects well to the Marine Corps,” said Ray Landin, retired Marine Chief Warrant Officer 4 and the current director of special events. “We never have anything to worry about with the Marines. They consistently come out here and give the audience the same great performance each day.”With the hard work of the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps each day, the unit helped make the State Fair of Texas special for all those who came to watch. The people of Texas showed the Marines with their big applauses how much they appreciate and value their service to their country.

Source

And here's a great video about the Marine Drum and Bugle Corps.

"50,000 Names" (George Jones)

I know, I know...another video, but this one is beautiful and definitely worth watching. Thanks Rhonda for pointing it out!

Son's Iraq duty spurs mom's return to singing

News-Journal Online.com
DELTONA -- Critical care nurse Micheleann Salvo-Kravchak missed her son's recent phone call from Iraq -- because she isn't allowed to use her cell phone while on the job at Orlando Regional Medical Center.

Her Army artillery soldier son, Spc. Kevin F. Kravchak, has been over there for 15 months.

She says the emotional drain has been rough -- much rougher than giving up a singing career 25 years ago to raise Kevin and his twin brother, Justin.

"I grew up in Seaside Heights, N.J., and I sang professionally all over the Jersey shore in nightclubs since I was 18 -- the drinking age in New Jersey -- until I was pregnant with my sons," Salvo-Kravchak says. "My upbringing led me to believe it would be better not doing that while they were growing up. I don't regret it."

Now, with one son in Iraq, at 52, she says she found some comfort in sharing her emotions online with other military moms. But a real catharsis for the Deltona woman has come from a resurgence in her singing career -- because of a song she recorded for her son that she put on her myspace.com page and on the video Web site YouTube.com.

"We have a network of moms from all over the country. We support one another, but the sad thing is, it seems every week one more mom will get online and say, 'My son isn't coming home,' and all of us sob like that child is ours," Salvo-Kravchak said. "Then I saw a picture of one mother with her soldier son, and she had recorded this song."

The song, "So Brave," was previously co-written and recorded by another soldier's mom, Angela Lashley, a Nashville songwriter and recording artist.

Lashley, 49, says she had toured with a band since age 16 and had given up her career at 22 after having her first child, but was trying to get back to songwriting and singing when she got the inspiration for her song.

"My son, Jonathan, who was in college called us one day to say that he was feeling compelled to serve in the military," Lashley says. "After he hung up the phone, there was an eerie silence, but then I said, 'When did he become so brave?' "

She sat at the piano and started the lyrics for the song that has evolved into a sort of anthem for military moms.

"Michele (Salvo-Kravchak) e-mailed me. She had a son and saw the songs posted on my Web sites," says Lashley, whose son now is an Army specialist serving in Iraq.

Salvo-Kravchak asked Lashley for permission to record "So Brave" for her own son.

"The song gave me chills," Salvo-Kravchak says. "She (Lashley) was very gracious about it. Then I started thinking it would be nice if we had a video to go along with this. Justin (Kevin's twin) just graduated from High Tech Institute (in Orlando) and pieced the video together."

Her son Kevin's reaction was "Wow," she says, but then came other reactions she didn't expect when she put it on YouTube.

"I had developed a military online support system and made so many contacts, that every week another mother would get online and ask, 'When are you going to release this?' " she says.

Then came a call from a national record producer. She began having discussions about a recording label and an album. She is not yet at liberty to share details, but she has been working on a CD at the recording studio at Deltona Arts & Historical Center, with the help of 25-year veteran recording producer Frank Starchak.

"She's a natural, and maybe she didn't expect this at this time in her life," Starchak says. "But the song seems to have a purpose. Michele doesn't make this about herself but about getting the (CD) done and helping people heal."

Salvo-Kravchak expects to complete an eight-song CD this month.

"I don't know where this all came from, but the important thing is the meaning behind the song for all the moms and dads whose sons and daughters are over there," she says.

audrey.parente@news-jrnl.com

Link to Micheleann Salvo-Kravchak at myspace.com/micheleannn and at youtube.com/watch?v=Y3u78vNpdps. Find Angela Lashley's version of "So Brave" at sobravesong.com

Source

Michele is one of our Myspace friends.

United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps goes cellular

They’re everywhere…..cell phones that is. All the ring-a-ling and ding-a-ling around every corner and I’m sorry, most of the ringtones that the cell phones initially come with are on the very last nerve of annoying. I myself have downloaded some great tunes onto mine from my carrier’s webpage; the “Marine Corps Hymn” for most calls and my son gets his own ringtone of “Semper Fidelis”.

But now, just about everyone can get a great Marine tune. The Commandant's Own, The United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps, now has ringtones. As the first in the U.S. Armed Forces to offer cell phone ringtones, the Drum & Bugle Corps have recorded a diverse mixture of public domain music, to include drum cadences, bugle calls, marches, and their most notable stylings in jazz.

These are MP3 tones that can be downloaded from any personal computer, and they have several tones to choose from. Now not all cell phones are able to download MP3 files, but you may know someone who can.

Check out the website of "The Commandant's Own" at http://drumcorps.mbw.usmc.mil and just click on ‘Ringtones’ in the left menu box.

Have they Found Him?

Go back and watch this video that I posted awhile back. Seems it's been VERY popular. I know I've seen it on several other blogs. Fox News did a story about him and he has earned the nickname BadA**Marine. There is even a website devoted to him. So far no one knows who he is, but Andy Denton says the search is over. Can't wait to find out the details! In the meantime, here are the lyrics:

and She called...
Blacks, Whites...wait
African Americans and Caucasians, Asians, excuse me.
Vietnamese, Philipenes, Koreans and Jamaicans or
Haitans, waitin' Hispanics y'all.

Please be paitent
Mexican, Puerto Ricans, Venezualean, Cuban, v Dominican, Panamanian Democrats
I beg your pardon, you partied with the late, great Reagan?
Republican, Independent, Christian, Catholic,
Methodist, Baptist, 7th Day Adventist, 5 Percenters,
Hindu, Sunii Muslim, Brothers and Sisters who never seen the New York city
skyline when the twin towers still existed.
But still She called.

From the bowels of Ground Zero she sent this 911 distress signal.
Because She was in desperate need of a hero,
and didn't have time to decipher what to call 'em,
so she called 'em all Her children.
The children of the stars and bars who needed to know nothing more than the fact that she called.
The fact that someone attempted to harm us
this daughter who covered us all with her loving arms.
And now these arms are sprawled across New York City streets.
A smoke filled lung, a silt covered faced,
and a solitary tear poured out of her cheek.
Her singed garments carpets Pennsylvania Avenue and the Pentagon was under her feet.
As she began to talk, she began to cough up small particles of debris
and said, "I am America, and I'm calling on the land of the free."
So they answered.

All personal differences set to the side
because right now there was no time to decide which state building the Confederate flag should fly over,
and which trimester the embryo is considered alive,
or on our monetary units, and which God we should confide.
You see, someone attempted to choke the voice
of the one who gave us the right for choice,
and now she was callin.
And somebody had to answer.
Who was going to answer?

So they did.
Stern faces and chisled chins.
Devoted women and disciplined men,
who rose from the ashes like a pheonix
and said "don't worry, we'll stand in your defense."
They tightened up their bootlaces
and said goodbye to loved ones, family and friends.
They tried to bombard them with the "hold on", "wait-a-minute's", and "what-if's".
And "Daddy, where you goin?".
And, "Mommy, why you leavin?".
And they merely kissed them on their foreheads and said "Don't worry, I have my reasons.
You see, to this country I pledged my allegience
to defend it against all enemies foreign and domestic.
So as long as I'm breathin, I'll run though hell-fire,
meet the enemy on the front lines,
look him directly in his face,
stare directly in his eyes and scream,
"I AM AMERICA! WE WILL NOT BE TERRORIZED!
WE WILL NOT BE TERRORIZED!
I REFUSE TO BE AFRAID!
I'LL FIGHT YOU ANY COUNTRY, ANY CONTINENT, ANY TERRAIN.
I'LL FIGHT TO MY LAST BREATH!"

And if by chance death is my fate,
pin my medals upon my chest,
and throw Old Glory on my grave.
But, don't y'all cry for me.
You see, my Father's prepared a place.
I'll be a part of his Holy army standing a watch at the Pearly Gates.
Because freedom was never free.
POW's, and fallen soldiers
all paid the ultimate sacrafice
along side veterans who put themselves in harms way.
Risking their lives and limbs just to hold up democracy's weight,
but still standing on them broken appendages anytime the National Anthem was played.
You see, these were the brave warriors that gave me the right
to say that I'm Black. Or white.

Or

African American or Caucasian,
I'm Asian, excuse me.
I'm Vietnamese, Philipene, Korean, or Jamaican.
I'm Haitan, Hispanic

Y'all, Please be paitent.
I'm Mexican, Puerto Rican, Venezualean, Cuban,
Dominican, Panamanian, Democrat
I beg your pardon, you see I partied with the late, great Reagan.
I'm Republican, Independent, Christian, Catholic,
Methodist, Baptist, 7th Day Adventist, 5 Percenters,
Hindu, Sunii Muslim,

Brothers and Sisters We're just Americans.
So with that I say
"Thank You" to the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines,
for preserving my rights
to live and die for this life
and paying the ultimate price for me to be...FREE!

BadAssMarine.com

Ohio (Come Back To Texas)

This is a great song by Bowling for Soup. I heard it today for the first time in a while and I thought y'all might like it. I love the lyrics.


"Ohio (Come Back To Texas)"

She said she needed a break
A little time to think
But then she went to Cleveland
With some guy named Leelan
That she met at the bank

There's nothing wrong with Ohio
Except the snow and the rain
I really like Drew Carey
And I'd love to see the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame

So when your done doing whatever
And when your through doing whoever
You know Denton County will be right here waiting for you....

Come back to Texas
Its just not the same since you went away
Before you lose your accent
And forget all about the Lonestar State
There's a seat for you at the rodeo
And I've got every slow dance saved
Besides the Mexican food sux north of here anyway

I think I made a mistake
Its not that easy to take
She went to make a deposit
Then she cleaned out her closet
Guess I'll sit here and wait

For her to come back home (I'd wish you come back home)
It shouldn't take very long (so long so long)
I bet she misses the sunrise
And Mrs. Baird's fruit pies but I could be wrong

So when your done doing whatever
And when your through doing whoever
You know Denton County will be right here waiting for you....

Come back to Texas
Its just not the same since you went away
I bet you missed your exit
And drove right on through the Lone Star State
There's a seat for you at the rodeo
And I've got every slow dance saved
Besides the Mexican food sux north of here anyway

Troy Aikmen wants you back
Willie Nelson wants you back
NASA wants you back
And the Bush twins want you back
And Pantera wants you back
And Blue Bell wants you back

I got a premonition
I'm taking a petition
And the whole state's gonna sign

Come back to Texas
Its just not the same since you went away
Before you lose your accent
And forget all about the Lone Star State
There's a seat for you at the rodeo
And I've got every slow dance saved

Come back to Texas
Its just not the same since you went away
Before you lose your accent
And forget all about the Lone Star State
There's a seat for you at the rodeo
And I've got every slow dance saved
Besides the Mexican food sux north of here anyway
Besides the Mexican food sux north of here anyway
Besides the Mexican food sux north of here anyway

Bumper of my SUV

"Bumper of my SUV" is a great song by Chely Wright. She tells the story of how she wrote it in this video. She has a brother who is a Marine and has performed for the troops all over the world. She was even in Japan not long before my oldest son was stationed there. Too bad he missed it. She was featured in Leatherneck Magazine back in 2005 I think it was. I have this CD and I love it.

On My Watch Tonight by Mike Corrado

Visit Mike Corrado's website.

Look what came in the mail today!

The author of Whisper Semper Fi sent me two of his CDs and I got them today! Isn't that the sweetest thing? I am thrilled! I am listening to Lest We Forget right now which you can order here and he also sent Cordell Country which is next up in the CD player. He won the Aloha Spirit Award in 2001 for his patriotic songpoems.

Lest We Forget...

After you have read Mr. Haugen's poem in the previous post, visit his website for information about his CD entitled "Lest We Forget". It won Patriotic Album of the Year in the Hawaii Music Awards. Here are some quotes about the CD from the site.

The new recording features some patriotic songs and some of the award-winning songs that have helped the community focus on events such as the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. The CD includes two stirring poems, patriotic hits, four songs related to the USS Arizona, one for those who are buried in our National Memorial Cemeteries-- from Punchbowl to Arlington -- plus other new and old songs, even a couple of memorable poems, all guaranteed to warm your heart and give you pause to reflect.

He's sending me the CD and I can't WAIT!! I know it will be wonderful. It will probably be one that I can't listen to in the car for fear of tears clouding up my vision. ;)

Here's what you’ll hear on the new CD:

1. Lest We Forget (a poem) read by Don

2. BB39 a Gordon Freitas song about a young sailor on the USS Arizona on
Dec. 6, 1941, recorded here for the first time, sung by Gordon

3. Peaceful Arizona, the award-winning Freitas song about that famous Hawai`i
landmark, sung by Gordon

4. We Still Care, the Pearl Harbor Commemorative Song sung by Keith
and the Sounds of Aloha Chorus. This was sung in the 50th anniversary events
at Pearl and was the theme song for the 1991 Aloha Bowl half-time show.

5. Yes, We Remember, narrated by US Senator Daniel K. Inouye, the only
member of the US Senate to win a Congressional Medal of Honor, with original
piano score by Bob Nelson.

6. In Flanders Fields (a 1918 poem by Dr. John McCrae) read by Don

7. Walking Through The Memories, a Requiem to the Fallen, also by
Haugen, was premiered in the 2001 Armed Forces Day Combined Military Band
Concert at the Hawai`i Theatre, and helped Keith win this year's Aloha Spirit
Award from the Chamber of Commerce of Hawai`i. This is a tribute in song to
all those buried in our National Memorial Cemeteries. Keith has the lead.

8. Whisper 'Semper Fi,' (The Ballad of the Leatherneck) by Haugen and
Freitas, is premiered on this recording. It is about an aging US Marine who
appears to have been forgotten by his family and country, sung by Gordon

9. Ballad of the Green Beret, the 60s hit by Sgt. Barry Sadler, sung here by
Keith, Don, and Gordon, just as they performed it in the 2000 Veterans Day
Concert in the Atherton Performing Arts Studio

10. Danny Boy, one of the most famous songs ever about a son going off to war,
sung by Don.

11. Cease Fire, A Christmas Song is one of the most unusual Christmas songs
ever written.Haugen wrote this during another Middle East war in the 1980s. It is sung by Keith.

12. Patriotic Medley includes This Land is Your Land,God Bless America, and
The Stars and Stripes Forever, sung by Keith, Don & Gordon

See what I mean about tears? I can just tell it's going to be great. In Flander's Fields is one of my favorite poems.

American Music Legend Praises U.S. Servicemembers

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service


WASHINGTON, June 26, 2007 – Standing in the Pentagon briefing room here, preparing to record a video message to troops deployed abroad, 70-year-old Charlie Daniels’ jaws, covered in tufts of white whiskers, work away at a wad of gum. As the camera starts rolling, he halts production.

“Oh, wait, I almost forgot!” he says in a country drawl, spitting his gum into a tissue. “My wife keeps yelling at me for going on TV with gum in my mouth.”

Daniels appeared here to accept the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service. The musician, perhaps best known for his chart-topping single, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” describes himself a blue-collar kind of guy. Instead of his signature “bull rider” Stetson hat, Daniels’ silvery-gray hair was covered by a baseball cap that featured a bald eagle poised before the American flag.

For more than 35 years, Daniels has entertained servicemembers with his unique blend of country, blues and rock music. The reason for his enduring support: Because men and women in uniform allow his family to sleep well at night.

“The people in our military are the best America has,” he said. “Without them, we would have no country.”

The Charlie Daniels Band has performed for troops at bases in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, Korea and elsewhere. Daniels begins every show the same way, he says, telling the audience, “I bring you greetings from the United States of America!” and ends each show by signing autographs and posing for photos.

An encounter with one enlisted man had an especially profound impact on Daniels, providing inspiration for a song he titled “When I Get Back from Iraq.” The first verse of the bluesy ballad, Daniels recalled, centers on the moment an Iraqi veteran returns home from duty.

“One of the toughest guys I ever saw walked into a (backstage) tent, and he looked like he could bite a railroad spike in two. I mean, he had the shaved head and the muscles – he looked like Rambo on steroids,” Daniels remembered. “I didn’t know what he wanted, but he just came back and started crying.

“This was one of the toughest guys I ever saw, and it was like (he said), ‘You remind me of home, and there’s something at home I miss,’” Daniels said. “It was special that this man felt enough at home with me that he would break down and cry, because he did not look the type.”

In a voice husky with emotion, Daniels recalled the song’s lyrics.

“When I get back from Iraq, I’m gonna go stormin’ through my front door,” he said. “I’m gonna grab a hold of my baby and love her like she ain’t been loved before.”

After decades of touring, the septuagenarian still has a hard time staying in any one place for very long. Daniels and the band regularly tour America, honoring troops as they go.

“Every night I pay homage to the military in our show, and I can tell by the reactions in the crowd that support for our military in United States of America is strong; I mean, very, very strong,” he said. “I can’t tell you what’s going on in the halls of power, and the penthouses and the corporate offices of America, because I don’t live in that world.

“I’m very much a blue-collar person; I come from a blue-collar background. And we play for a lot of people in a year’s time, and I’m here to tell you, they support the military,” he said.

Daniels said his lifelong sense of patriotism and support for U.S. troops was born during World War II. He remembers sitting around the radio and listening to reports that Japan had bombed the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

“We never ever thought we would lose,” he recalled about the war. “We always had that feeling -- everybody, grown folks, kids, everybody -- knew we were going to win the Second World War. My brand of patriotism came during that time.”

The musician said his perception of American culture isn’t formed by today’s mainstream media.

“We travel this country coast to coast and border to border every year,” he said, “and I know that a lot of people get their impressions by watching commercial television or reading the newspaper, and I find that support for the military in this country is so much more solid and so much more loyal and widespread than you would ever get from watching TV or reading the newspaper.

“America supports the military, and it’s important for me to know that the military knows that,” he said.

The Charlie Daniels Band documented their last two visits to bases around Iraq and recorded a CD/DVD multimedia offering titled “Live From Iraq,” which was released today.

Source

For My Country

Pat Boone has a new CD and DVD coming out called For My Country. I get emails from Paralyzed Veterans of America (a great charity), and they sent me an email about it today. I'm going to order it. I have sort of eclectic tastes in music. I like everything from bluegrass to Christian contemporary to classical to swing, and I happen to like Pat Boone. I have a song of his on a CD that a friend made for me called Everybody's Gonna Have Religion in Glory and I love it. I like to turn it up real loud in the car and sing along. Does that make me white and nerdy? :) Pat Boone has done so much to support our troops and I really appreciate his efforts.

Pat Boone (featuring the singing group Valor) pays tribute to the United States National Guard and our troops in this moving music video. Also includes touching interviews with the families of brave soldiers overseas. A major portion of the proceeds will aid the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
$14.98

Orderhere.

Also check out PVA's article about the first ever GI Film Festival.

On Memorial Day weekend 2007, the Paralyzed Veterans of America sponsored a GI Film Festival. This film festival was the first in the nation to celebrate the successes and sacrifices of America’s military. The festival presented films from new and established international and domestic filmmakers that honor the heroic stories of our military. Prizes were awarded to winners of three categories: feature, documentary, and film shorts.

Read it here.