Ron the Yarn Spinner

 

Kate Smith – God Bless America

In the U.S, the last Monday in May, Memorial Day, is set aside for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Two other days celebrate those who have served or are serving in the U.S. military: Armed Forces Day (May 18^th) an unofficial U.S. holiday for honoring those currently serving in the armed forces, and Veterans Day (on November 11th), which honors all those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

When the United States entered World War II after the 1941 attacks on Pearl Harbor, men shipped overseas by the millions to serve in the war. This left many of the civilian and military jobs on the home front unfilled—and that's when women stepped in. A U.S. government ad campaign to encourage women to enter the workforce featured a fictional icon "Rosie the Riveter," with the words, "We Can Do It!" And  six million women in America   answered,  “Yes We Can.” While there’s no unofficial  holiday to celebrate these women and others who stepped up in different ways,  I think we could at least pause for a few minutes to remember them as well and I recall one woman  in particular worthy of acclaim.

She was born on May 1, 1907, in Greenville, Virginia. Kate Smith  failed to talk until she was four years old a but a year later she was singing at church socials and by the time she was eight, she was performing for the troops at Army camps. Kate never had a singing lesson in her life but possessed a 'rich range' of two and a half octaves.

Her earliest musical influences were her parents: her father sang in the choir at the Catholic church; her mother played piano at the Presbyterian church.

Kate went on to become a radio and television celebrity and is credited with over twenty-five top selling singles, among them was  her signature song, God Bless America.

She sang before the president and  King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at the White House. She received a Drake University medallion for "outstanding contributions to radio and the people" and she was inducted posthumously into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1999 and into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2009.

In 2010, the U.S. postal service issued a commemorative stamp  in her honor. Why?

Well, ever wonder how “we” paid for WWII?

Financing to pay for the war came mostly by borrowing from the American people through the sale of war bonds, which raised about $50 billion. Because Kate  was able to stir up such  patriotic fervor during  the War, she alone facilitated  the sale of over $600 million (equivalent to $12 billion today) of war bonds during a series of marathon performances. No other show-business star ever came close to generating this amount of financial help with the war effort.

On October 26, 1982, Kate received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor, from U.S. President Ronald Reagan. In bestowing the honor, Reagan said:

“The voice of Kate Smith is known and loved by millions of Americans, young and old. In war and peace, it has been an inspiration. Those simple but deeply moving words, "God bless America", have taken on added meaning for all of us because of the way Kate Smith sang them. Thanks to her they have become a cherished part of all our lives, an undying reminder of the beauty, the courage, and the heart of this great land of ours. In giving us a magnificent, selfless talent like Kate Smith, God has truly blessed America.”

The song’s continued presence at major events is said to reflect its ongoing significance in American culture. I hope that is true.  Angela Brown is scheduled to sing "God Bless America" at the Indianapolis 500 tomorrow  May 26^th (Indianapolis Motor Speedway). . Maybe you want to sing along? Words and Music by Irving Berlin

 

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,

Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,

Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,

As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.

 

God bless America,

Land that I love,

Stand beside her and guide her.

Through the night with a light from above.

 

From the mountains to the prairies,

To the oceans, white with foam

God bless America, My home sweet home.

God bless America, My home sweet home.

 

At least take a moment to reflect on the words. It will make your Memorial Day more memorable.

Meme:

“Our dead are never dead to us until we have forgotten them.”  George Elliot

 

God Bless America