No Shortage of Great Music This Memorial Day

As I was thinking of some songs to play this Memorial Day, a few obvious ones came to mind like "Some Gave All" by Billy Ray Cyrus, "God Bless the U.S.A." by Lee Greenwood, "American Soldier" by Toby Keith, and "If You're Reading This" by Tim McGraw. That was off the top of my head. Then I started looking through our library and found some great ones I had forgotten all about.

One of those--and I can't believe I forgot it--is the Statler Brothers' poignant "More Than a Name on a Wall." Oddly enough the author is unknown. Too bad. It's a great song. One of those lump-in-the-throat types. But as I looked through the list, I couldn't believe what else I'd forgotten. "Riding with Private Malone" by David Ball, "Letters from Home" by John Michael Montgomery, "8th of November" by Big & Rich,  the new one by Steve Azar--"Soldier Song," and a couple of terrific ones by Trace Adkins, "Arlington" and "Till the Last Shot's Fired"--the latter performed live on the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2009 with the West Point Cadet Glee Club. It was one of the most stirring performances I've ever seen on television.

As it turns out, there are almost as many songs for Memorial Day as there are Christmas carols. And we'll roll 'em out on Monday as we remember men and women who can summon more courage at a moment's notice than most of us will ever be able to do in a lifetime. For all that these amazing and courageous people face on our behalf, we owe them undying gratitude. Playing this music is the least we can do.