As we celebrate Veterans Day next week I am reminded of how important the patriotic songs are for the seniors I sing with. Nothing gets everyone singing more enthusiastically than God Bless America, America the Beautiful or My Country Tis of Thee. Often the veterans in the group will ask for the songs associated with the branch of the military in which they served – for example The Marine Corps Hymn or Anchors Aweigh. I’ll be bringing the Veterans Day songbooks with me next week and they include all of these songs and more.
On my website you can find pdf versions for the following songs (with all their verses) to print out for your own Veterans Day celebrations.
God Bless America America the Beautiful My Country Tis of Thee Anchors Aweigh Caissons Go Rolling Along Marine Corps Hymn US Air Force
I have never served in the military nor been in a dangerous situation as so many of our veterans have. But I know the power of music to bring us together, to create camaraderie and to lift our spirits when everything around us looks dark. In his book “The World in Six Songs” Daniel J. Levitin describes it this way. “Patriotic songs are a natural extension of the power that music has to define the we. This is our country, our region, our group, our common interest…”
Next week we will sing together and give thanks to our veterans for their service.
Yours in song,
Mary Sue
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Mary Sue Wilkinson is the founder of Singing Heart to HeartTM and the Young at Heart Music Program. She is a career educator and professional musician. And she loves to sing! Her flagship program, Young at Heart Music, is devoted to bringing the joy of music and singing to seniors with decades of life experiences and memories tied to music. Mary Sue is available as a speaker sharing her expertise about the power of music to awaken memories and bring joy. Together with Tiyi Schippers, Mary Sue also provides music experiences for young children and training for early childhood educators.
On my 
