Patriotic music has probably existed for hundred and hundreds of years. Of course much of the patriotic music has been composed in times of war or struggle. The purpose is almost always to bolster the troops, but also to comfort those that are waiting patiently at home and doing their best to help the “war effort.”
My dear father used to tell me about all the songs that they sang during World War II when they had to do long marches through the freezing cold and snowy forest in the Ardenne Forest of Belgium. He explained to my sister and me that singing upbeat, rhythmic songs as they marched helped to keep their minds off of how cold they were, how tired they were and how scared they were!
He taught many Army songs to us such as “Do Your Ears Hang Low,” “A Capital Ship,” and patriotic favorites such as “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” “Yankee Doodle,” and “March, March, March the Boys are Calling.” Singing songs that talk about love of country and willingness to do what must be done, kept the morale up and help the U.S. troops to prevail. They sang for their lives!
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