Selecting Veterans Day music for a performance can be a challenge for elementary music teachers. Teachers want to select songs that capture the meaning of the holiday, but many of the lyrics can be far too overwhelming for young children. This is exactly the roadblock Cleveland Elementary School’s music teacher came to about two weeks ago…until she had an idea.
Recently, State Superintendent John Barge encouraged all Georgia public school students to write letters of support and encouragement to troops serving overseas. Dana Lamb approached the school’s principal, Angie Southers, to ask if the school still had the letters that the children had written to the soldiers. She was hoping to find a lyric or idea that would jog her memory to help her think of the perfect song.
Instead, what she found was a treasure trove of poignant thoughts from even the youngest children at the school. As she started to take notes from the children’s letters, she realized that their words would be stunning lyrics for a song – the perfect song for an elementary Veterans Day program. Blending her teaching career with her second career as a professional songwriter, the ballad “Dear Soldier” came to life as a musical letter from a young child to a soldier serving overseas.
The words of twenty-six children from second through fifth grade were used to write the song “Dear Soldier” which will be sung at Cleveland Elementary School’s Veterans Day PTO presentation “Freedomsong.” The program will feature performances by the combined fourth and fifth grade, a brand new fourth grade chime choir, fifth grade orchestra, fifth grade Select Choir, a Kindergarten soloist, and a trumpet soloist from Columbus State University. The program will be on Thursday, November 10, at 7 p.m.
Children pictured from left to right and their corresponding lyric to the song. Also included is a picture of Principal Angie Southers with music teacher Dana Lamb at the keyboard with the original song.
Dear Soldier – 2011
Dear Soldier, I hope you read my letter (2)Today I am going to make you smile (4)
There are so many things I want to thank you for (21)
I want to be like you (9) but wish there was no war (13)
Tell the other soldiers I said, “Hi.” (14) I love the soldiers for being so brave (1)
If you weren’t reading this, we would never be safe (16)
Dear Soldier, what time is it in Afghanistan (18)
When do you sleep when you are in a war? (19)
Is it hot over there? Do you fight in the rain? (22)
I just don’t think that I could be that brave (23)
Stay safe and be careful at work (5)
Keep me in your heart when challenges come (6)
Can’t imagine how hard it is to be away from home so long (15)
Tell me do you know my dad? He was there in Iraq (11)
Do you know my cousin? He’s a soldier like no other (24)
I think a soldier is the best hero (25)
I wish you all stayed home (20) cause I miss my brother (26)
Dear Soldier, America is better because you protect and you serve (3)
I hope you enjoyed my letter (17) I wish I knew you a little bit better (8)
Thank you for serving the best country in the world (10)
I know how hard you work to keep us free (7)
Tell the men and women “thank you” from me (12)
In the bottom row are Ashayla Lee (1), Mitch Lawhorn (2), Joel Oliver (3), Jadeyn Stevens (4), Houston Stewart (5), Alex Yanez (6), and Lucy Thomas (7) not pictured Alex Meyer. In the middle row are Wendoline Zamora (9), Chris Carley (10), O’Kira Coleman (11), Ella Cook (12), Grayson Dunn (13), Jessica Harris (14), Jessica Hart (15), Ashley Kim (16) and Audrey Stratton (17). In the top row are Clayton Smallwood (18), William Aboytes (19), Kevin Aveldanez (20), Ewan Beauzile (21), Dakota Bellavance (22), Erick Benitez-Ramos (23), Hannah Caldwell (24), Brooke Brady (25), and Xiomara Ramos (26). Photo/Special.
