Posted on 05/10/2003 5:42:48 PM PDT by Pokey78
VALLEY CENTER, Kan. (AP) -- Former prisoner of war Pfc. Patrick Miller got a huge surprise at a parade and rally in his honor Saturday - courtesy of country star Toby Keith.
Miller, who enjoyed irritating his Iraqi captors by singing Keith's "Courtesy of the Red White & Blue," was reluctantly persuaded to strike up the tune with three school buddies during the homecoming in his childhood hometown.
They were cut off by Bobby Massey, pastor of Valley Center Assembly of God, who told them, "I think it would be better if we got someone who knows how to sing it."
Then Miller watched incredulously as Keith emerged from the crowd and strode up to the platform to sing the popular song. The crowd roared whenever Keith stepped back and let Miller sing a few choice lines in the song. Miller blinked back tears.
Keith said it was an easy decision to make the appearance in the town north of Wichita. "After finding out he was singing the 'Red White and Blue' to the Iraqis - how can you say no?" he said.
Afterward, Keith presented Miller with the guitar he had played.
Keith quickly left after playing the song, telling reporters later he did not want to take the spotlight away from Miller. He later joined the soldier for a private lunch.
Miller was one of seven soldiers rescued April 13 when Iraqi forces abandoned their posts ahead of advancing American troops. At the rally, he asked the crowd of roughly 2,000 to keep thinking of the troops still in Iraq.
"We still have people fighting, people are still going over there," he said. "Some will come home, some might not come home. We don't know yet. So please keep them in your thoughts," he said.
American girls and American guys will always stand up and salute;
Will always recognize
When we see ol' glory flying,
There's a lot of men dead,
So we can sleep in peace at night when we lay down our head.
My daddy served in the army,
Where he lost his right eye.
But he flew a flag out in our yard 'til the day that he died.
He wanted my mother, my brother, my sister and me
To grow up and live happy in the land of the free.
Now this nation that I love has fallen under attack.
A mighty sucker punch came flying in from somewhere in the back.
Soon as we could see clearly through our big black eye,
Man we lit up your world like the Fourth of July.
Hey Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list,
And the Statue of Liberty started shaking her fist.
And the eagle will fly,
And there's gonna be Hell,
When you hear Mother Freedom start ringing her bell!
It's gonna feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you...
Brought to you courtesy of the Red, White and Blue!
Oh, Justice will be served and the battle will rage.
This big dog will fight when you rattle his cage
You'll be sorry that you messed with the US of A
'Cuz we'll put a boot in your ass
It's the American way.
Hey Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list,
And the Statue of Liberty started shaking her fist.
And the eagle will fly,
And there's gonna be Hell,
When you hear Mother Freedom start ringing her bell!
And it'll feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you...
Brought to you courtesy of the Red, White and Blue!
Of the Red, White and Blue..
Of my Red, White and Blue...
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