We Salute the Veterans with the Patriotic “Centennial – Long Live Our Free America”
Our hearts are filled with gratitude on this Veteran’s Day as we honor all the brave men and women who sacrificed so much so that we could have a better life and a country to call home. Today we recognize all our distinguished veterans whose service has allowed our nation to prosper and has allowed us all to live in freedom. Millions of Americans have sacrificed much to help protect us and the cause of freedom since 1776 and gave it in service to their nation. Gen. George Washington, in his farewell address to his officers in New York in 1783, said, “I most devoutly wish that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy as your former ones have been glorious and honorable.” This makes us remember the 1946 musical film Centennial Summer, directed by Otto Preminger, where a tale of a family, dominated by young ladies, living in Philadelphia at the time of the Centennial Exposition in 1876. Enjoy this memorable musical moment of a chorus ensemble of the high-spirited “Centennial – Long Live Our Free America,” written by Jerome Kern and Leo Robin from Centennial Summer.
We Honor Our Country with the Patriotic “I’m Saving A Dime (Out Of Every Dollar)”
Seventy-five years ago today, Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States of America, hereby designated December 15, 1941, as Bill of Rights Day. FDR said “And I call upon the officials of the Government, and upon the people of the United States, to observe the day by displaying the flag of the United States on public buildings and by meeting together for such prayers and such ceremonies as may seem to them appropriate.” In the spirit of this patriotism. we remember during World War II, there were patriotic, sometimes jingoistic, songs which reflected the prevalent mood. There were the songs which, while not alluding to the war per se, have become forever associated with that dark period in our nation’s history. Then again there were the topical songs about black outs, rationing and of course the armed forces.
We remember when FDR declared on June 12, 1943 that “Entertainment is always a national asset. Invaluable in times of peace, it is indispensable in wartime. All those who are working in the entertainment industry are building and maintaining national morale both on the battlefront and on the home front.” Artists, entertainers and schools pitched in to support the bond effort. For example, The Hollywood Bond Cavalcade was a traveling variety show putting on live shows or radio programs promoting War Bond sales featuring the likes of Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Lucille Ball, Marlene Dietrich and Mickey Rooney. Here is a memorable musical moment of a classic World War II savings bond song written by the famous songwriting team Leo Robin And Ralph Rainger and introduced by Bing Crosby with a chorus ensemble — “I’m Saving A Dime (Out Of Every Dollar).”