More Songs, Careers and Thanks… November 14, 2014 Veterans Corner by Ronald Verini Tye Culver of the Iraq And Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) hosted a ‘VetTogether’ event at Mackey’s last Tuesday. Was a great time reconnecting with old friends and making some new ones too! Fruitland, Idaho also hosted several Veterans Day Events not only honoring our active military and veterans, but also a Gold Star Mother of a daughter who gave her life for our Freedoms. Two WWII veterans, Chick Heim and Jim Coatie, two Korean War Vets Harold Baer and Glen Crosby, two Vietnam Vets, Ray Hartley and Ron Verini, and two Desert Storm Vets, Don O’Brien and Dave Peters, all enjoyed the musical program staged by the 4th and 5th grades of Carol Beaubien at Alameda School. Great Job Kids!!!!! Continuing on with the Military Songs stories: “Anchors Aweigh” was written to be used specifically as a football marching song. In 1906 the US Navy Bandmaster Lt. Charles Zimmerman was approached by Midshipman Alfred Hart Miles, to write a piece of music that had ‘swing’, was inspiring and could be used as a marching song. Together they wrote “Anchors Aweigh” and dedicated it to the class of 1907, and that year it propelled Navy to beat Army in football. Thus, it was officially adopted as the Navy Song. “Semper Paratus” (always ready) is the official US Coast Guard Motto. In 1922 Capt. Francis VanBoskerck, commanding the cutter Yamacraw stationed in Savannah, Georgia was inspired to write some lyrics about “Semper Paratus”. Then about 5 years later while stationed in the Aleutian Islands, and on an old piano in Unalaska, Alaska, he composed the music, which still remains as the Official Coast Guard Song. In 1938 ‘Liberty Magazine’ held a contest to write a song for the “Army Air Corps”. Of the 757 scores submitted, Robert Crawford’s was selected, and he sang its premier at the 1939 Cleveland Air Races. Then in 1947 when the Army Air Corps became the “US Air Force”, Crawford’s song was kept as-is and the title was changed to “The U.S. Air Force” song. Still today, “Off we go into the wild blue yonder” propels thousands of Air Force servicemen and women to reach for the sky for their dreams. All branches of the military have performing musical groups. If you are interested in a military career in music, well just go to music.army.mil, or go to musicians-professional-resource and click on Military in the left column. A very special thanks to the’ anonymous lady’ that brought in some wonderful shoes and socks to help our veteran families, and also to all of you folks supporting our deployed troops and less fortunate military and veteran families here at home. Your donations are so greatly appreciated. If you too would like to help, just bring your donations to Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida, 484 S.W. 4th Ave., next to Kinney & Keele True Value Hardware. We are there 10am to 4pm Monday thru Friday, 541-889-1978. “The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.” Patrick Henry
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 01:39:28 +0000
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