Posted July 02, 2018 in
Inform, June 2003
It was the opportunity of a lifetime. I was asked whether I would like to perform “America,” a song that I wrote about the September 11 tragedy, as an introduction to a speech by former New York City Mayor, Rudy Giuliani. After I picked up my jaw (which had dropped to the floor), I stammered ‘Yes.’
Rudolph Giuliani was in town for the 2003 Plano Forum, held on May 2. Other featured speakers included basketball coach Bobby Knight, test pilot Chick Yeager, political analysts Cokie and Steve Roberts, Congressman J.C. Watts, Jr. and “Catch Me If You Can” author Frank Abagnale. The speakers discussed leadership, business, and politics in the post 9-11 era. Throughout the program, there was a strong sense of patriotism and an emphasis on America’s role in shaping the world.
I wrote the song “America” on September 15, 2001 as a personal way of dealing with the tragic events in New York and Washington. I performed the song live on Channel 4’s Good Day Show a few weeks later. The song’s theme of maintaining both our resolve and our humanity in the face of terrorist threats remains true today, given the recent events in Iraq. You can only imagine my excitement when I was told that I would be sandwiched between Bobby Knight and Rudy Giuliani on the Plano Forum schedule events. To increase the impact, singer Andrew Moore, who had recently spent time fighting in Afghanistan, performed the song in his U.S. Air Force uniform. Despite my alternating emotional states of sheer joy and sheer panic, everything went beautifully!
After the performance, I met Rudy Giuliani. Mr. Giuliani was gracious enough to sign 10 (yes, ten) copies of his book (one for each of my office staff). In addition, despite the misgivings of his Secret Service detail, he accepted a copy of my “America” CD.
AMERICA
Sometimes we take it for granted
All the joy of living at peace.
Yesterday someone tried to take it away
And we have to find the will to carry on.
They tried to break down our courage
To destroy what we love and what we believe.
But today as we wipe our tears away
We’ve found the strength we never knew we had.
America, America, God shed his grace on thee
The land of light, the land of hope, from sea to shining sea.
Hold up your head, reach out your heart, and hold on to your dreams
Be proud to be an American, and stand up for liberty.
Now we’re no longer strangers
Together we’ll help those in need.
Our sorrow will give way to new tomorrows
And we’ll be stronger than we’ve ever been before.
America, America, God shed his grace on thee
The land of light, the land of hope, from sea to shining sea.
Hold up your head, reach out your heart, and hold on to your dreams
Be proud to be an American, and stand up for liberty.
If you are interested in obtaining the ‘America’ CD, copies are available through my office at (469) 467-0100. There is no charge for the CD. We simply ask that you make a donation (of whatever amount you deem appropriate) to the American Red Cross.