Page 44 - Allison's Magazine Issue #97

© Dan Beckman

toll booth or in our hotel, is thank them Home is my life, but it’s my dad’s legacy. War II veteran and his wife, who had
for their service and start singing their I have a picture of him onstage at every to have been in their nineties—looked
branch song—they get so excited! show, and I talk about it being his idea. at each other. She got a little teary-
I feel him with me during the shows. He eyed and smiled at him, and he smiled
We also have this fun undertaking called was my best friend and my mentor. back, reached over, and took her hand.
the American Story Project, where They gazed into each other’s eyes for
we interview veterans after shows and What are some unforgettable the duration of the song. Afterward, he
share their stories on YouTube, and we moments you’ve experienced at came up to me and said, “I just want
just started a radio podcast called On the show? you to know that that was the song I
Location, where we talk to veterans. One of my favorite stories comes from heard when I first saw my wife. Hearing
years ago. We were in a VA hospital it again was so special.”
On a personal level, after my dad passed in Asheville, North Carolina. After
away in 2015, I started the Pat Dearth the show, a man stood up out of his How will people feel after a Letters
Veterans Fund. This pays for our travel wheelchair to give me a hug. All the From Home show?
expenses to go to places like VA homes, nurses rushed over—I thought I did In our shows, we strive to highlight
hospitals, and veteran fund-raisers across something wrong! Later, I asked if positivity and all the good out there; I
Letters From Home is pretty much Live Till I Die,” a Frank Sinatra song all sing together in three-part harmony, the country—any veteran places that everything was OK. They said that it call it “outshining the shadows.” We do
my life, but I wouldn’t do anything that is usually one of my solos in the using our tapping feet to represent the may not have a budget or where vets was, but he hadn’t stood up by himself it through old-fashioned fun: a variety of
different. I love it with all my heart. show. Audiences have really responded marching of the soldiers. may have limited mobility. 100 percent in over three years. We went back to singing, dancing, audience interaction,
well to “Bad Moon Rising,” which of sales from our CDs, calendars, and that same place six months later to do remembrance, laughter, and tears. I
What are some of your most popular the three of us perform in an almost Besides performing, what other other merchandise goes to these funds. our Christmas show, and he was walking hope that people are changed for the
showstopping numbers? bluegrass style. ways do you help veterans? down the hall! better in their mind-set and in their
“Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” is always a The little things matter. We’ll try to Was your dad proud of Letters spirit, and that they leave with a little
popular hit with World War II veterans Also, “The Ballad of the Green Berets” call veterans on their birthdays or on From Home? And then there was this super sweet kick in their step. It’s an experience, not
and anyone who loves vintage music. It’s is probably one of our most popular Veterans Day. One of my favorite things It was his pride and joy. He loved what couple. We were singing “I’ll Be Seeing just a performance.
fun, upbeat, and has lots of tap dancing. songs. I choreographed it to be an a to do on tour when I see a veteran with we were doing for veterans and used to You,” and, as soon as the song started, For more info, visit lettersfromhomesingers.com
I also enjoy performing “I'm Gonna cappella dance set to the music that we a veteran's hat on, even when we're at a come to a lot of our shows. Letters From a couple in the front row—a World

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