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This Memorial Day I am truly honored to play this beautiful tune “Amazing Grace“ to honor the many souls who never came home after serving their country. I am so honored to play often at Riverside National Cemetery and this place is so special to me personally. No words can truly express the Love, Peace and Healing that I feel on these hollowed grounds. This place has healed my heart each time I am here. I hope that you feel the healing love through this video. My heart goes out to each of you and I am so grateful for the love and support that you all have given me over the years as a musician. May today bring you the love that was given by these honorable Men and Women. This video is lovingly Dedicated to honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Remembering nearly 1.2 million military personnel in all conflicts since the Revolutionary War. Rest in peace. Purchase/Download of “Amazing Grace“: Amazon: Apple Music: Filming for this video was at Riverside National Cemetery. Visiting the Five Medal of Honor recipients, The newest Gold Star Memorial and the Veterans Memorial. These places are for each of us to go and remember those who gave all and never returned home to their families or loved ones. What it means to be given the Medal of Honor: The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians, and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. The medal is normally awarded by the President of the United States (the commander in chief of the armed forces) and is presented “in the name of the United States Congress.“ It is often, not strictly correctly, referred to as the Congressional Medal of Honor. Remembering the five Medal of Honor Recipients at Riverside National Cemetery: -Ysmael R Villegas, US Army S Sergeant in WW2 was the first Veteran to be buried at Riverside National Cemetery. -Mitchell Paige, US Marine WW2 (August 31, 1918 – November 15, 2003) -Walter David Ehlers US Army WW2. (May 7, 1921 – February 20, 2014) -John Henry Balch US Navy WW1 (January 2, 1896 – October 15, 1980) -Lewis Lee Millett Sr. US Army Korean War (December 15, 1920 – November 14, 2009) Gold Star Families are the families The term Gold Star family is a modern reference that comes from the Service Flag. These flags/banners were first flown by families during World War I. The flag included a blue star for every immediate family member serving in the armed forces of the United States, during any period of war or hostilities in which the armed forces of the United States were engaged. If that loved one died, the blue star was replaced by a gold star. This allowed members of the community to know the price that the family had paid in the cause of freedom. Today, the nation recognizes the sacrifice that all Gold Star Family members make when a father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, or other loved one dies in service to the nation. Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day is the last Sunday of September and Gold Star Spouses Day is April 5. The strength of our nation is our Army. The strength of our Army is our Soldiers. The strength of our Soldiers is our families. The Army recognizes that no one has given more for the nation than the families of the fallen. The Veteran’s Memorial was sculpted by Thomas Schomberg. The Veterans Memorial statue is the focal point that greets those who visit the historical Riverside National Cemetery. The Statue, an unknown lifeless body of a soldier in which the boots and hands are the only things visibly distinguishable, sits atop a 12-foot pedestal. As the face of the soldier and most of the body is hidden with a large cloak. The unknown soldier represents any man or woman, any rank or division and stands as a silent memorial of every American who has given their lives in combat. Filming by: Tress Maksimuk Recorded by: Tress and Matt Maulding Hilltop Studios
