Whewww! I did it!

Well, I did it...

Sang the National Anthem and God Bless America! - Acappella - no less! I had been invited by the New York State Chief of Staff, Fred DiFabio to sing the opening and closing song for their annual, 'Dropping of the Roses Ceremony' hosted at the Farmingdale AirPower Museum...It is a wonderful ceremony commemorating the infamous day of December 7th, 1941 at Pearl Harbor. Each year, several hundred people attend the ceremony, with several state and federal dignitaries which is coordinated by the Long Island Air Force Association, in conjunction with the Navy and various other military branches and personel. Special guests are the Long Island survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack...Roses, one for each year since that day, are blessed with waters that come from the area surrounding the USS Arizona in Hawaii...then they are flown by the Geico Skytypers in vintage WWII planes over the Statue of Liberty and dropped...

It was a very Somber moment, the introduction and then the formal Presentation of Colors, as the Navy, the Civil Air Patrol, the Airforce and the Vietnam Veterans (I'm sure there were others), marched forward in carrying the flags. It was so official, so somber, so perfectly coordinated...I didn't even feel like I should smile...

So, properly I stood, put my hand over my heart, (silently prayed) and there it was that first note...OOOOooooooSAY can you SEE....

Oh goodness I didn't start where I wanted to. The note was fine, but not the one I was practicing....ahhhhhh - will I hit all of them ok? Thoughts, and nerves ran almost wild as I simultaneously tried to keep my cool, not say - 'Oops wrong note, let me start again, do over please.' NOPE - I was committed - 'Forward Christian soldier....'

I resolved my self to focus on the back wall gazing past the flag..., above the heads of every one there, praying God you would cover and help me get to those high notes now...

I heard in my own voice a tremble and stress at them, but 'so I'm told' it couldn't be noticed...
So I finally finished, hitting every note, at least 'ok', and thankfully in the flurry of nerves and fear and raging thoughts and prayers didn't forget any of the words...That would have been worse - I think.

I was far more comfortable for the closing song 'God Bless America'. Everyone joined in and sang along...

It was a true honor and a blessing...a small way to give honor where honor is due, to be thankful for this great nation, for those who surrendered their lives that we might be able to walk and live in the freedoms we so abundantly enjoy...

Thank You Lord for the privalege!

You can watch some of the videos that were shown at the ceremony this year here...

http://www.joannafruhauf.com/apps/videos/

Raise the Banner was written, recorded and coordinated by me and shown at the ceremony.

Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com