Cleaner recording from his appearance on the Louis CK show.

Another good one written and performed by a former special ops guy now singer/songwriter.

That’s the kind of person–and family–to whom America owes an unpayable debt of gratitude. A young couple who came to the United States in the steerage of a ship, speaking no English, bringing with them little more than their hopes. They worked hard, and raised their children to be Americans, to the point where when war came about, their boys enlisted in the military, fought, and in Naino’s case died for their country.

The least we can do is remember.

It’s also been said that country music’s themes are:
Play hard.
Don’t mess around on your significant other.
Take care of your friends.
Work hard.
Never back down.
Get right with The Man.
Children and old folks rule.
Show up for the war.

Not much for the hip, self-detaching ironic folks there, no?

I’m not the least bit interested in ironic post-modern detachment. Country music isn’t my favorite genre, but I like lots of country music nevertheless, and I’m especially impressed with some of the lyrics.

This song is one of the finest in that regard. It rips your heart out and absolutely forces tears from your eyes, but I don’t think it’s maudlin, which has connotations of cheap and fake and foolish and/or self-pitying sentimentality. This song’s lyrics are emotional and very accessible, yes, but the power of the lyrics lies in the lack of self-pity in the speaker/singer and his relative stoicism.

Not that you meant the word in that sense. But I just wanted to clarify.

Here is a list the names of my uncle, a WWII bombardier/navigator, and my Navy friends and squadronmates who died in Vietnam. They hold a special place in my heart and are remembered this day:
LCDR Gerry Roberts
LCDR Hal Gray
LTjg M.D. McMican
LTjg Jerry Romano
ATN-2 Tom Plants
ATR-3 Bill Amspacher
LCDR Bill Carey
1st Lt. Larry Goreski

As long as we remember them they still live as the young, courageous, good men we knew. Freedom isn’t free. No finer way to honor their memory than to continue to nourish and defend the freedom for which they died.

IN FLANDERS FIELDS
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.