Veterans' Day, part deux
Nov. 11th, 2006 12:07 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thatcrazycajunIt occurs to me that, since the actual legislated date for observance of Veterans' Day is 11 November, while federal and bank observance was on Friday the 10th (due to the 11th falling on a Saturday this year), I should post something for each of the two days. There will be much flag-waving and parading and laying of wreaths in national cemeteries today, which is entirely fitting and proper.
Beyond the merest shadow of a doubt, the most eloquent tribute to the valor of American (or any nation's) military sacrifice ever penned is credited to the late former US President, Abraham Lincoln: the simple, amazingly brief yet powerful speech he gave 143 years ago this month at just such a cemetery in Gettysburg, PA, following a hard-fought battle there of what we in the South traditionally like to call "the late unpleasantness," or when feeling less charitable, "the War of Northern Aggression." He said at the time, "the world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they [the soldiers buried there] did here." About the latter half of that statement, he was most assuredly correct; but in the former, he was more wrong than he could possibly have imagined...as anyone knows who has been to his memorial in Washington and seen his "forgettable" words from that day carved into the stone of its walls, there to stand for all time.
But for anyone who saw the musical selection from yesterday's posting and is unfamiliar with it, I humbly offer it here as my own poor tribute to those who freely choose to don their nation's uniform and risk all for love of her. It has often been my feeling that, while Memorial Day is primarily for honoring our war dead, Veterans' Day is more for honoring the living soldiers who are still here to be thanked...and deserve to be. I wrote this song in 1989 to pay homage to both, inspired by an NBC made-for-TV film depicting a fictionalized account of Vietnam War veteran Jan Scruggs' efforts to bring into reality what is now probably the most visited military monument in a city filled with them. I hope to be able to offer a recording of the music one day, to help raise funds for that monument's ongoing need for upkeep...and to help those still living who need it. Lyrics are behind the cut.
Beyond the merest shadow of a doubt, the most eloquent tribute to the valor of American (or any nation's) military sacrifice ever penned is credited to the late former US President, Abraham Lincoln: the simple, amazingly brief yet powerful speech he gave 143 years ago this month at just such a cemetery in Gettysburg, PA, following a hard-fought battle there of what we in the South traditionally like to call "the late unpleasantness," or when feeling less charitable, "the War of Northern Aggression." He said at the time, "the world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they [the soldiers buried there] did here." About the latter half of that statement, he was most assuredly correct; but in the former, he was more wrong than he could possibly have imagined...as anyone knows who has been to his memorial in Washington and seen his "forgettable" words from that day carved into the stone of its walls, there to stand for all time.
But for anyone who saw the musical selection from yesterday's posting and is unfamiliar with it, I humbly offer it here as my own poor tribute to those who freely choose to don their nation's uniform and risk all for love of her. It has often been my feeling that, while Memorial Day is primarily for honoring our war dead, Veterans' Day is more for honoring the living soldiers who are still here to be thanked...and deserve to be. I wrote this song in 1989 to pay homage to both, inspired by an NBC made-for-TV film depicting a fictionalized account of Vietnam War veteran Jan Scruggs' efforts to bring into reality what is now probably the most visited military monument in a city filled with them. I hope to be able to offer a recording of the music one day, to help raise funds for that monument's ongoing need for upkeep...and to help those still living who need it. Lyrics are behind the cut.
NAMES UPON THE WALL
Music & lyrics by Matt G. Leger ©1989-2006
Touching down in Washington, in town to do a show--
Thought I'd go out and look around, see the sights, you know.
A gentle breeze was blowing as I walked along the Mall,
And in a quiet grove of trees, I came upon the Wall.
A line of people filing past, heads bowed and faces grave;
Row after row of names and ranks into the stone engraved.
Some stopped to touch a name or two, or lay a flag below --
A few so young their father's name is all of him they know.
CHORUS: And it doesn't matter what their age, or where they fought the fight;
It doesn't matter anymore who was wrong or who was right.
They all had ones who still with love and gentle pain recall
The men whose mem'ry's bound up in the names upon the Wall.
Mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, wives and lovers too,
Friends "in country" and back home, and people that they knew --
From ev'ry walk of life they come, each race and creed that's known...
But they're all the same when they come here to touch the cold, black stone.
Two men recall a comrade and the battles lost and won;
A woman turns around in shock and whispers, "That's my son..."
Rough soldier's arms embrace her, tears stain a patch-filled sleeve,
And strangers become family as in common bond they grieve.
CHORUS: And it doesn't matter what their age, or where they fought the fight;
It doesn't matter anymore who was wrong or who was right.
They entered hell and gave their lives when they heard their country's call
And now they live forevermore as names upon the Wall.
BRIDGE: So many dead and wounded, so many left behind,
But for those who made it back, death almost would have been more kind;
Hated, shunned and spat upon, called murderers and worse --
Is it any wonder that by madness some are cursed?
The line goes ever onward still, endless pairs of feet
Before the stark reminder of our first taste of defeat;
They lay their small mementoes down, and all they take away
Is scraps of paper rubbed with names in lines of charcoal gray.
(Key change)
The Wall exerts its power ev'ry time we touch a name;
We touch it and it touches us, and we're never quite the same.
It stands for painful lessons learned, and peace made with the past;
It stands for hope a nation can be whole again at last.
CHORUS: And it doesn't matter what their age, or where they fought the fight;
It doesn't matter anymore who was wrong or who was right.
Black, red, yellow, white or brown, it matters not at all --
Your mem'ry lives in honor if your name is on that Wall!
No, it doesn't matter what their age or where they fought the fight;
It doesn't matter worth a damn who was wrong or who was right.
Down through all the years today, the sorrow touches all;
I sing my song for all of you whose names are on the Wall...
And may there be
No future names
To carve on any wall.
Entire composition © by Matt G. Leger. Performance or recording for profit requires prior written consent from me and payment of royalties per ASCAP/BMI standard, to be donated to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (www.vvmf.org). All other uses freely permitted so long as this credit is retained unaltered. END
Music & lyrics by Matt G. Leger ©1989-2006
Touching down in Washington, in town to do a show--
Thought I'd go out and look around, see the sights, you know.
A gentle breeze was blowing as I walked along the Mall,
And in a quiet grove of trees, I came upon the Wall.
A line of people filing past, heads bowed and faces grave;
Row after row of names and ranks into the stone engraved.
Some stopped to touch a name or two, or lay a flag below --
A few so young their father's name is all of him they know.
CHORUS: And it doesn't matter what their age, or where they fought the fight;
It doesn't matter anymore who was wrong or who was right.
They all had ones who still with love and gentle pain recall
The men whose mem'ry's bound up in the names upon the Wall.
Mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, wives and lovers too,
Friends "in country" and back home, and people that they knew --
From ev'ry walk of life they come, each race and creed that's known...
But they're all the same when they come here to touch the cold, black stone.
Two men recall a comrade and the battles lost and won;
A woman turns around in shock and whispers, "That's my son..."
Rough soldier's arms embrace her, tears stain a patch-filled sleeve,
And strangers become family as in common bond they grieve.
CHORUS: And it doesn't matter what their age, or where they fought the fight;
It doesn't matter anymore who was wrong or who was right.
They entered hell and gave their lives when they heard their country's call
And now they live forevermore as names upon the Wall.
BRIDGE: So many dead and wounded, so many left behind,
But for those who made it back, death almost would have been more kind;
Hated, shunned and spat upon, called murderers and worse --
Is it any wonder that by madness some are cursed?
The line goes ever onward still, endless pairs of feet
Before the stark reminder of our first taste of defeat;
They lay their small mementoes down, and all they take away
Is scraps of paper rubbed with names in lines of charcoal gray.
(Key change)
The Wall exerts its power ev'ry time we touch a name;
We touch it and it touches us, and we're never quite the same.
It stands for painful lessons learned, and peace made with the past;
It stands for hope a nation can be whole again at last.
CHORUS: And it doesn't matter what their age, or where they fought the fight;
It doesn't matter anymore who was wrong or who was right.
Black, red, yellow, white or brown, it matters not at all --
Your mem'ry lives in honor if your name is on that Wall!
No, it doesn't matter what their age or where they fought the fight;
It doesn't matter worth a damn who was wrong or who was right.
Down through all the years today, the sorrow touches all;
I sing my song for all of you whose names are on the Wall...
And may there be
No future names
To carve on any wall.
Entire composition © by Matt G. Leger. Performance or recording for profit requires prior written consent from me and payment of royalties per ASCAP/BMI standard, to be donated to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (www.vvmf.org). All other uses freely permitted so long as this credit is retained unaltered. END
no subject
Date: 2006-11-16 08:08 pm (UTC)Appropriate posting of a most fitting tribute.