Ten Years Later: 9/11-11

Flowers by the Sea

 9/11 is a very personal memory for me. You see, my friend Tom McGuinness was the Co-Pilot on that day, the first plane to hit the tower. He and his wife and their two kids, Tommy and Jennifer went to our church (Riverview). Many times I saw their smiles out in the lobby and at a friend's home fellowship group. All that changed on 9/11, as you know. They had 2 Memorial services for Tom, one on the East Coast and one on the West Coast at my church. I played the keyboard, along with the worship team, as my best friend Beth sang "God Bless America," while watching a very brave wife, Cheryl and her son and daughter, sitting in the front row. 

Many of the  military representatives were there, along with the news media and after our song, Cheryl (a very brave woman) made her way for the stage to share her thoughts to a crowd that overflowed from the church, out over the lawn, to the parking lot.  Tom's wife shared that it was a normal morning of having breakfast, sharing devotions,  hugging one another, saying goodbye with a  tender, "I love you."

Little did she know at that moment she'd be saying goodbye to her husband for the very last time. You know the rest of the story. Where were you when the towers were hit? It is indeed a time for solemn reflection and prayer today. You know, everyone knew someone that was in this terrible tragedy. I thank you for listening to my story. Please say a prayer for the Mc Guinness family and for all, especially the United States of America. May it be a peaceful day for us all.

 In honor of Tom McGuinness

Hopefully, you'll be able to hear us on the music file at https://soundcloud.com/ladyd-piano/911-tribute.

Irving Berlin
God Bless America lyrics

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free.
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer:

God bless america , land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her
Through 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.

-- Irving Berlin

I think my favorite clip that touches my heart is the song from Alan Jackson. How about you?

 

Chords to God Bless The U.S.A

(Words and Music by Lee Greenwood)

Intro:  D    F#m7    Em7    A    D    F#m7    Em7    A

     D              F#m7
If tomorrow all the things were gone
    Em
I'd worked for all my life,
      C
And I had to start again
             Em              A
with just my children and my wife,
    D              F#m7
I'd thank my lucky stars
      Em7           Bm
to be livin' here today.
          Em                    C
Cause the flag still stands for freedom
         Bm                      G
And they can't take that away.

        A
And I'm proud to be an American
         G                D
Where at least I know I'm free
      A
And I won't forget the men who died
    G                  D
Who gave that right to me
             Bm       D                 G                D
And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today
            G                D
Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
    G         A D
God bless the USA

Interlude:  F#m7    Em7    A    D    F#m7    Em7    A

         D             F#m
>From the lakes of Minnesota
       Em
To the hills of Tennessee
 C
Across the plains of Texas
     Em             A
>From sea to shining sea
     D               F#m7
>From Detroit down to Houston
    Em7          Bm
And New York to LA
             Em              C
Well there's pride in every American heart
        Bm                       G
And its time we stand and say

         A
That I'm proud to be an American
         G                D
Where at least I know I'm free
      A
And I won't forget the men who died
    G                  D
Who gave that right to me
             Bm       D                 G                D
And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today
            G                D
Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
    G         A D
God bless the USA

        A
And I'm proud to be an American
         G                D
Where at least I know I'm free
      A
And I won't forget the men who died
    G                  D
Who gave that right to me
             Bm       D                 G                D
And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today
            G                D
Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
    G         A D
God bless the USA

+ + + + + + + + + + + + +

God Bless The USA

by Lee Greenwood

E                                       A
If tomorrow all the things were gone I'd worked for all my life,
     F#m7                             D               B7
And I had to start again with just my children and my wife,
    E                          Abm7
I'd thank my lucky stars to be living here today
           F#m7                                       C#m           A
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom and they can't take that away

Chorus
        B                                A                E
And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free
      B                                  A                E
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me
                C#m       Abm7             A                Abm7
And I'll gladly stand up, next to you, and defend her still today
             F#m7             E                   A     B     E      
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee,
Across the plains of Texas, from sea to shining sea,
From Detroit down to Houston, from New York to LA,
Well there's pride in every American heart, 
And it's time we stand and say,

         B                                 A                E
That I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free,
         B                               A                  E
And I won`t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me
                C#m       Abm7            A               Abm7
And I'll gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today,
       F#m7                   E                   A           C#m / A
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA
        B                                 A                E
And I'm Proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free,
      B                                  A                 E 
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me,
                C#m       Abm7            A                Abm7
And I'll gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today,
             F#m7             E                    F#m7   Abm7 A  B7  E
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God  bless  the  U  S   A 

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God Bless The USA (This is the key I play)

by Lee Greenwood

F                                      Bb/F
If tomorrow all the things were gone I'd worked for all my life,
     Gm7                            Eb7               C7
And I had to start again with just my children and my wife,
   F                         Am7
I'd thank my lucky stars to be living here today
           Gm7                                       Dm           Bb
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom and they can't take that away

Chorus
        C/E                                Bb/D                F
And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free
      C/E                                 Bb/D                F
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me
                Dm      F/A             Bb                Am7
And I'll gladly stand up, next to you, and defend her still today
             Gm7             F/A                   Bb     Gm7/C  F      
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee,
Across the plains of Texas, from sea to shining sea,
From Detroit down to Houston, from New York to LA,
Well there's pride in every American heart, 
And it's time we stand and say,

        C/E                                 Bb/D                F
That I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free,
         C/E                              Bb/D                  F
And I won`t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me
               Dm      F/A           Bb               Am7
And I'll gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today,
       Gm7                   F/A                  Bb           Gm7/C F
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA
       C/E                                 Bb/D                F
And I'm Proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free,
      C/E                                  Bb/D                 F 
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me,
                Dm       F/A           Bb                Am7
And I'll gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today,
             Gm7            F/A                    Gm7   Am7 Bb  C7  F
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God  bless  the  U  S   A 

Stop by and see this free music resource:
4 Free Video Lessons & Sequence

Blessings,

"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King