Browsing through a favorite reference book, Chases Calendar of Events, I always stumble across an interesting fact, event or anniversary. May 1, 2008 will mark the 99th birthday of Kate Smith (1909-1986). Kate Smith and Irving Berlin’s composition “God Bless America” are forever linked. The song, written during WWI for an army camp show, was rejected by the show’s producers and stored in a trunk of rejected manuscripts. 20 years later it was resurrected when Kate Smith’s manager approached Irving Berlin for a new patriotic song for Kate Smith to sing to mark the 20th anniversary of the Armistice that ended WWI. This became her theme song, a timeless masterpiece for all of us.
“God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.”
~Emma
Read it or Weep 