This Memorial Day Consider a Child
// May 25th, 2009 // No Comments » // History, Military, Music
Roger Waters of Pink Floyd fame, and an incredible songwriter, owes much of his fame unfortunately to the death of his dad in World War II. The Wall
It was just before dawn one miserable morning in black ‘forty four.
When the forward commander was told to sit tight when he asked that his men be withdrawn.
And the Generals gave thanks as the other ranks held back the enemy tanks for a while.
And the Anzio bridgehead was held for the price of a few hundred ordinary lives.And kind old King George sent Mother a note when he heard that father was gone.
It was, I recall, in the form of a scroll, with gold leaf and all.
And I found it one day in a drawer of old photographs, hidden away.
And my eyes still grow damp to remember his Majesty signed with his own rubber stamp.It was dark all around.
There was frost in the ground when the tigers broke free.
And no one survived from the Royal Fusiliers Company C.
They were all left behind, most of them dead, the rest of them dying.
And that’s how the High Command took my daddy from me.“When the tigers broke free” - Pink Floyd, The Final Cut
I grew up listening to these albums without really paying attention to the words or the themes. The music was great. “Another Brick in the Wall” caused much angst among teachers I recall. As I look back and listen again today, I can only think that Waters spent much of his youth and most of his adult life angry and confused, if these and other lyrics are any indication. To a child, war doesn’t make sense. Losing a parent to something that doesn’t make sense makes it doubly tough.
When a child loses a parent to war, especially an unpopular one, the risk is substantial that the honor and respect — the legacy — due the parent by all Americans will be forgotten. It’s tough for children to overhear things like “illegal war” and “misguided ideologies” and “torturers” and not come away feeling angry and confused, much like Roger Waters did.
A Soldier’s Child Birthday Foundation was established in an effort to remind children of fallen military personnel that their mom or dad did make a difference and were in fact heroes just by the mere fact that they chose to don a uniform of the United States. It is our hope that you might consider joining us to keep the legacy of dad or mom alive by helping us provide a birthday present to a child each year up to age 19. This Memorial Day, consider a child. Read more HERE.
I have the privilege of playing bass for some very talented high schoolers tonight at Page High School in Franklin TN. These students wrote and will perform songs in front of their parents, teachers, and peers. Industry pros will be judging the performers, and 3 winners will play at the Blue Bird with the top performer getting a day in the studio. As part of the production, the entire music and arts department will take part in putting on the show to a live audience but also to the web through live streaming video. The performers will be seen, but many back stage hands including lights, audio, video, web, and production crews will have just as important roles, all part of the learning process. You are sure to hear about some of these folks in years to come. Pros in the making for sure.
My buddy Tim who founded 
I just watched my friend John Scott Evans on CBS playing with George Takei. It was Secret Talents of the Stars or something like that. Guitar was really good. Singing, not so good. Just the same, it was a lot of fun to see.
My first 
