American Minute with Bill Federer
Irving Berlin - "God Bless America!"
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The son of a
rabbi,
he was born MAY 11, 1888.
At 4-years-old, he immigrated with his family from
Russia
to
New York.
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Falling in love with America, he served as a U.S. infantry sergeant in
World War I.
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He later wrote some of the nation's most popular songs, including:
"I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas";
"Remember";
"Always";
"Alexander's Ragtime Band";
"There's No Business like Show Business"; and
"Easter Parade."
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Who was he?
Irving Berlin.
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Irving Berlin
wrote the Broadway musical,
"This is the Army,"
which was made into a 1943 film starring
Ronald Reagan.
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President Harry S. Truman
awarded
Irving Berlin
the
Army's Medal of Merit
in 1945 for:
"Extraordinary service as creator and producer of the musical revue, This Is the Army."
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Irving Berlin
wrote the patriotic hymn
"God Bless America"
in 1917.
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It was introduced to the public in 1938 when
Kate Smith
sang it on an
Armistice Day
radio broadcast.
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Irving Berlin
gave all the royalties from the song, over $100,000, to the
Boy Scouts
and
Girl Scouts.
The original
Boy Scout Oath
stated:
"On my honor I will do my best:
To do my duty to
God
and my
country;
and
To obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and
morally straight."
The original
Girl Scout Promise
stated:
"On my honor, I will try:
To do my duty to
God
and my
country;
To help other people at all times;
To obey the Girl Scout laws."
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In 1954,
President Eisenhower
signed a Congressional Bill awarding
Irving Berlin
a
Congressional Gold Medal:
"In recognition of his services in composing many popular songs, including '
God Bless America.'"
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Upon receiving the medal, February 19, 1955,
Irving Berlin
commented to
President Eisenhower:
"To me,
'God Bless America'
was not just a song but an expression of my feeling toward the country to which I owe what I have and what I am."
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In 1977,
Irving Berlin
received the
Presidential Medal of Freedom
from
President Ford.
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On October 12, 2001,
Congressman Mike Castle of Delaware
stated:
"In the aftermath of
September 11
... Republicans and Democrats burst into that song of the same name by
Irving Berlin
on the steps of the U.S. Capitol ... It was a slogan for peace."
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Irving Berlin
wrote:
"While the storm clouds gather
far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance,
to a land that's free.
Let us all be grateful,
for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices,
in a solemn prayer.
God Bless America,
Land that I Love,
Stand Beside Her,
and Guide Her,
Through the Night,
with the Light From Above,
From the Mountains,
to the Prairies,
To the Oceans
White with Foam,
God Bless America,
My Home Sweet Home,
God Bless America,
My Home Sweet Home!"
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President Ronald Reagan
stated in his Second Inaugural Address, January 21, 1985:
"With heart and hand, let us stand as one today: One people under God determined that our future shall be worthy of our past ...
There is no story more heartening in our history than the progress that we have made toward the 'brotherhood of man' that God intended for us ...
For all our problems, our differences, we are together as of old, as we raise our voices to the God who is the Author of this most tender music.
And may He continue to hold us close as we fill the world with our sound ... dedicated to the dream of freedom that He has placed in the human heart, called upon now to pass that dream on to a waiting and hopeful world ...
God bless you and may
God bless America."
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Schedule Bill Federer for informative interviews & captivating PowerPoint presentations: 314-502-8924
wjfederer@gmail.com
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American Minute is a registered trademark of William J. Federer. Permission is granted to forward, reprint, or duplicate, with acknowledgment.
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