On October 8, 1987, a Kate Smith statue was dedicated outside the Spectrum in Philadelphia before the Flyers game vs. the Montreal Canadiens. It is shown here at its current location near the Wells Fargo Center, the Flyers' home since 1996.
Posted on 05/25/2015 8:04:43 AM PDT by Baynative
Hitler was taking over Europe and Americans were afraid we'd have to go to war. It was a time of hardship and worry for most Americans. This was the era just before TV, when radio shows were HUGE, and American families sat around their radios in the evenings, listening to their favorite entertainers, and no entertainer of that era was bigger than Kate Smith. Kate was also large; plus size, as we now say, and the popular phrase still used today is in deference to her, "It ain't over till the fat lady sings". Kate Smith might not have made it big in the age of TV, but with her voice coming over the radio, she was the biggest star of her time. Kate was also patriotic. It hurt her to see Americans so depressed and afraid of what the next day would bring . She had hope for America , and faith in her fellow Americans.
She wanted to do something to cheer them up, so she went to the famous American song-writer, Irving Berlin (who also wrote "White Christmas") and asked him to write a song that would make Americans feel good again about their country. When she described what she was looking for, he said he had just the song for her. He went to his files and found a song that he had written, but never published, 22 years before - way back in 1917. He gave it to her and she worked on it with her studio orchestra. She and Irving Berlin were not sure how the song would be received by the public, but both agreed they would not take any profits from God Bless America . Any profits would go to the Boy Scouts of America. Over the years, the Boy Scouts have received millions of dollars in royalties from this song. This video starts out with Kate Smith coming into the radio studio with the orchestra and an audience.
She introduces the new song for the very first time, and starts singing. After the first couple verses, with her voice in the background still singing, scenes are shown from the 1940 movie, "You're In The Army Now." At the 4:20 mark of the video you see a young actor in the movie, sitting in an office, reading a paper; it's Ronald Reagan. To this day, God Bless America stirs our patriotic feelings and pride in our country. Back in 1940, when Kate Smith went looking for a song to raise the spirits of her fellow Americans, I doubt whether she realized just how successful the results would be for her fellow Americans during those years of hardship and worry. And for many generations of Americans to follow.
Now that you know the story of the song, I hope you'll enjoy it and treasure it even more. Many people don't know there's a lead in to the song since it usually starts with "God Bless America ....." So here's the entire song as originally sung..... ENJOY!
Later.
Thank you
Many think this should be our national anthem.
Thank you. to those I’ve pinged, Please watch it.
Nice, I never tire watching and hearing it.
On October 8, 1987, a Kate Smith statue was dedicated outside the Spectrum in Philadelphia before the Flyers game vs. the Montreal Canadiens. It is shown here at its current location near the Wells Fargo Center, the Flyers' home since 1996.
The utter ineptness and disgrace that Obama exhibits on a daily basis does not get my attention today.
Obama and Hillary and their disastrous policies that enabled and empowered (and armed) the savages we are fighting are all bad enough, but the disgusting desertion and dereliction of duty regarding 4 Americans who were slaughtered in Benghazi will always make a difference to those of us who revere and honor the brave and selfless Warriors who serve to protect and defend us! The difference the “preventable” deaths of these courageous Americans makes is something they are unable to comprehend.
Take a listen to Marine and Purple Heart Recipient Nick Popoditch (who was there when Saddam’s statue was brought down in Baghdad) sum up the greatness of our military and the True Grit & Selfless Warriors who fill it’s ranks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoFvBXUamuM
Today, I will lower that beautiful flag that flies in my front yard and I will make sure my grandchildren know why our flag is lowered. We will gather and we will remember and give thanks to those who gave their lives to ensure we live freely to enjoy this beautiful and protected way of life they provided us.
It is the Soldier, who risks his life, who gives us our freedom!
So after today, I will not forget that fact and I will be sure to honor these brave Americans who are willing to die to give us this precious freedom: I will honor them by voting!
Unfortunately for our military and for all of us, there were those in 2012 (4 million, it is reported), who sat home and did not vote in one of the most important Presidential elections ever in the history of this great republic. Obama told us he would fundamentally change this country and he made a good start in his first 4 years and he made it clear he would continue down his path, if given another 4 years. Those 4 million who stayed home and didn’t vote are the ones yelling the loudest now against all that Obama is doing! I hear some of these folks saying the same thing again, that if they don’t get the pure candidate they want, they will stay home again. These folks run in Conservative circles so I have come to the conclusion they must be Marxists who have successfully infiltrated the conservative movement because surely, SURELY, nobody could be that naïve that they didn’t believe Obama meant what he said back in 2012, and surely they would have now realized that staying home and not voting is a mistake?! Surely!!!
I challenge anyone of these folks to convince me that their decision to stay home and not vote was good for their family, our military and our country. Their decision, in my opinion, was a dereliction of their duty to their family, our military and our country. You see, along with our military, we have a duty too, and that is to engage in elections to help protect our freedom, our way of life, and most of all, to protect and support the very brave men and women who keep us safe and free! One thing is for certain, if you don’t exercise your right to vote, you really have no room to complain. Unfortunately for the rest of us, and especially our military fighting in far off lands, we all suffer now the reckless and horrendous consequences of their dereliction of duty as American citizens!
Please, on this Memorial Day, remember our noble Heroes who have given their all and please make a commitment to honor our brave Warriors and the sacrifices they and their families make, by voting in future elections. At the very least, we owe them that!
AND with regard to those who wear the uniform of Blue:
May God Bless & Watch over our Police. Under this bizarre president and his dudes and dudettes administration, our brave men and women in Blue are now subject to the same restrictive rules of engagement that our military has been under. We all know how this will play out, Obama and his policies of appeasement toward all those who are evil will continue to costs precious American lives.
It is time for the Police to suffer the “Blue Flu”. Let those in Baltimore, Ferguson and “Chiraq”, who don’t like the Police and resent their protection, let them defend their neighborhoods!
With a Grateful Heart for all those who put on a uniform everyday to protect and keep us safe, my family is forever grateful to all of you!
God Bless All Those Who Wear The Uniform To Protect and Keep us Safe, May God Bless & Watch YOU! On Memorial Day & Everyday, may we as a nation ALWAYS be grateful for those who gave their lives to keep us safe!
Freedom is not free, it is paid for by the sacrifice of brave Americans who love us so much they are willing to lay down their lives to protect us and keep us free!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK0T4pVHP28
With a Mother’s Grateful Heart,
Beverly Perlson
The Band of Mothers
I offer quiet internal personal thanks to those who fought and sacrificed on this Memorial Day.
Dad saw action with the USMC in the pacific during WW 2. He hated ceremony. Didn’t dress up, didn’t march in parades, didn’t go to parades and generally didn’t like those who did.....thought of them as posers. He remained in uniform as a member of NYs finest after the war for another 23 years . He couldn’t wait to get out of that uniform either. (The ceremonial NYPD honor guard at his funeral was nice....as was the Marine Corp honor guard at the national cemetery.he probably would have hated it)
I didn’t serve and am neither proud or ashamed of that fact. It is what it is.
I thank those who served and have personally thanked those I come across in uniform. But like dad there is something about the pomp and ceremony I don’t like. So in honor of dad and all the others who served I will watch WW 2 In Color on the history channel and later Texas Rising.
Semper Fi Dad.
Wonderful video — made me shiver and then pray!
Lord Jesus, You shed Your Precious Blood on the Cross for love of all mankind. You said that "Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John, 15:13)" We thank You, Lord, on this special day of remembrance, for all those who give unselfishly for the love of a brother; for love of the principles upon which our nation was founded; and for those who have also shed their blood out of love. Please, for their sake, bless our country once again with wisdom and justice, and grant us Your peace.
Amen
I have to say that I’d prefer “America the Beautiful”, but either one would be a fair exchange for what we have now, IMO.
I understand but the Star Spangled Banner is inspiring in its’ own way too since it kinda speaks of America’s never give up hopeful attitude.
Since both of the other 2 songs evoke God I am sure we won’t change now. Wouldn’t want to offend anyone. ( rolls eyes)
God what a voice. I miss her, no doubt she is a National Treasure. Too bad today’s generation do not know her.
It became associated more with the “Broad Street Bullies.”
Thanks for the ping. I watched it, and I appreciate knowing the story of its origin.
After untold ‘listenings’ of Ray Charles’ version of America, it still causes shivers. Especially in the context of a special day like this.
This is, of course, from a movie made several years later. The announcer at the beginning sets the date as 1939. In fact, Kate Smith introduced the song on November 10th, 1938. A recording of that occasion exists—and there are some interesting differences in the 1938 lyrics—a whiff of “America First.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.