Tag Archives: WWII

Music Monday: May 25, 2026

Posted in Music Monday by

Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

This year will mark 85 years since the attack on the Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Oahu, Hawaii on December 7, 1941. Because of that devastating event, Congress voted to expand the draft from men between the ages of 21 and 45 to those aged 18 to 64. A teenage boy named David Yoho stepped up. This past Saturday, the soon to be 98 year old former Merchant Marine spoke at the National WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. to remind the country that nearly 417,000 U.S. military members never made it home.

“Tell your friends about this place”.  

“Tell your friends about the fact that you stood in the rain to hear us today”  

“Tell the friends about your dedication and then tell them about us. Tell them about veterans and say to them:

“We gave up our yesterdays for your tomorrows.”

“And if they say to you then, who did you hear speak these words, tell them it was a 16 year old boy in the heart and mind and body of a 98 year old veteran of WWII”.

Former Merchant Marine David Yoho, 97, speaking at the National WWII Memorial on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I grew up on Long Island. I cheered for the NY Islanders every chance I got. And watching what they did for 105 year old WWII veteran Dominick Critelli last December made me cheer again. Respect to my hometown, respect to this man for his service to our country and respect to all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. May their memory be a blessing.

Staff Sergeant Dominick Critelli at the NY Islanders game December 27, 2025 at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Staff Sergeant Dominick Critelli: “The Star Spangled Banner” (Performed live on Saturday, December 27, 2025 at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. Written by Francis Scott Key).

Stay safe & well.

Christmas Song Countdown #8 & Goodbye To An American Hero

Posted in Christmas, Music by

Hello, Vixens!!!  Welcome back to the countdown!!!

Today’s song is a no-brainer.   It honors the man who died 36 years ago.  He taught us to peacefully question what we thought was wrong with the world, to imagine it as one, that all we need is love and that being a stay at home dad is a valid life choice, even when he became one in 1975,  Of course he did so much more, but that is what we remember the most.

Oh, and he was one of the Beatles   🙂

john-lennon

Original source unknown

Side note:  Did you know there is a park dedicated to John Lennon in Havana, Cuba?  It features a bronze statute of him sitting on a bench.  I cannot decide if it is creepy or cool.

Thoughts?

Oh, and the glasses are removable.

And we have a winner:  creepy it is.

Read more about the park and the glasses here.

john-lennon-figure Courtesy:  CNN

His Christmas song has become a holiday classic, and there are so many great versions of it by so many diverse artists I really could not decide which one you would like to hear.

So, today you have a choice.

Which version of “Happy Xmas War Is Over” would you like to listen to?

John Lennon’s original version;

Or Celine Dion’s;

celine-dion

Original source unknown

Or Darius Rucker’s;

Or Christina Perri’s‘

Or The Three Tenors‘;

3-tenors

Courtesy of kinoarena

Or Sleeping At Last’s;

Or Sarah McLachlan’s;

sarah-mclachlan

Courtesy:  sarahmclachlan.com

Or Neil Diamond’s.

Also today,  we lost another famous John.  A true hero to our country & in many respects the entire world:  John Herschel Glenn Jr.  Our first man to orbit the earth, he was a pioneer who made the dream of outer space a reality that inspired children everywhere to believe that they, too, could one day follow in his footsteps.

He quit college after the bombing of Pearl Harbor (yesterday marked the 75th anniversary of that attack) to join the military and stayed for over two decades.  He served in World War II and Korea, then became a US Senator from Ohio.  He died at the age of 95, a good long life for a man who had so much to give and inspire us with.

Thank you for being one of America’s greatest men.

Rest in peace, Colonel Glenn.

This one is for you.

Elton John’s Rocket Man.

john-glenn

Courtesy:  Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing some things that I love with you   🙂

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, fellow Vixens, happy listening!!!