Posted on 05/16/2009 8:08:22 AM PDT by John McDonnell
later
Beautiful. First I’ve heard of the song. I visualized honoring our brave and heroic dead over the centuries. Brought tears to my eyes.
I maintain a collection of songs by Charles H. Gabriel at: http://www.angelfire.com/ks/landzastanza/chg.html
http://www.the1920snetwork.com/
Charles H. Gabriel wrote some of my favorite hymns, including “He is So Precious to Me” (1902), “Lord, Like the Publican I Stand” (1914), “Jesus, Rose of Sharon” (1922) and “Morning Will Come” (1932). He also wrote the music for “His Eye is On the Sparrow” by Civilla Martin, another of my favorite hymn writers.
Gabriel wrote “Decoration Hymn” while he was the music director at the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church in San Francisco. Although the church is long gone, United Methodist Church still owns the site, which is now a housing complex for the poor. When I visited the site last year, I saw a young man light up a marijuana cigarette before entering the building.
I grew up with everyone calling Memorial Day “Decoration Day” instead. Some classmates would get new clothing then as opposed to the beginning of the school year.
Thanks for posting this.
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