A Memorial Day Medley (optional sing-along) - Improvised by pianist Charles Manning

Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day honors the men and women who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. From 1868 to 1970 the American holiday was observed on May 30. From the Uniform Monday Holiday Act passed by Congress in 1968, Memorial Day became an official federal holiday in 1971 and is now observed on the last Monday of May. Each year on Memorial Day a National Moment of Remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time throughout the country. In tribute to the fallen soldiers, the graves of military personnel are decorated with American flags in national cemeteries. Memorial Day is also observed by many Americans who visit cemeteries and decorate the graves with flowers.

Another tribute is expressed through patriotic music. “A Memorial Day Medley” is a medley of American patriotic songs, all composed around the turn of the 20th century. The songs in the medley include “The Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Philip Sousa; “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and “Over There” both by George M. Cohan; and “God Bless America” by Irving Berlin. Two bugle calls, “Reveille” and “Taps,” are also included in the medley. As a sing-along piano accompaniment for “A Memorial Day Medley,” the songs are arranged and improvised by pianist Charles Manning. To sing along with Charles, the lyrics for the selected verses of each song are printed below.

~ Introduction – "The Stars and Stripes Forever" ~

"You're a Grand Old Flag"
You're a high-flying flag,
And forever in peace may you wave.
You're the emblem of
The land I love,
The home of the free and the brave.
Every heart beats true
Under red, white and blue,
Where there's never a boast or brag,
But should old acquaintance be forgot
Keep your eye on the grand old flag…

~ Bugle Call – "Reveille" ~

"Over There," over there,
Send the word, send the word over there
That the Yanks are coming,
The Yanks are coming,
The drums rum-tumming
Everywhere
So prepare, say a prayer,
Send the word, send the word to beware.
We'll be over, we're coming over
And we won't come back till it's over
Over there.

"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!
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!

~ Bugle Call - "Taps" ~