Thirteen Years Later

 Thirteen Years Later


 For quite some time now, I have put my thoughts into a post for my blog on 9/11. You can read them here,  Ten Years Later and 911 Ten Years Later

While driving around on a beautiful day like today, I couldn't help but notice all the flags flying half mast. I was sad for a little while for all the victims and then I remembered some of my friends who are pilots now, particularly Tommy Mc Guinness the son of Tom Mc Guiness who was the co-pilot on that tragic day. We need pilots and especially for such crazy times as we are seeing today with so much unrest in the world. Thank you to all military for serving our country.

Many of you have heard my story of me being the keyboard player at Tom Mc Guiness' West Coast Memorial Service. I simply was handed a score of music and played the keys on a string patch.  Thirteen years ago I saw Tom's son (a wee little lad back then) sitting in the front row at my church listening to his mom talk about what had happened the morning of 9/11. Today, Tom is a pilot and I am his friend on FaceBook. I am so very proud of him. I'm sure his dad is, too.

Destiny is defined as:

The events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thing in the future.
The hidden power believed to control what will happen in the future; fate.

I don't have all the answers to many deep and troubling things but my Pastor encourages me in the word by sharing Romans 8:28 Somehow... all these things are working together for my good. I will continue to trust the Lord.

I have no songs or chord progressions to share with you today. Just a heart that is appreciative for my readers and fellow church musicians. So, keep practicing whatever it is that your passionate about. Whether patriotic, gospel, blues or classical... move your fingers daily and find your rhythm to life.

We have so much freedom in our country. Jesus is my savior. Do you know Him?

Next week I hope to be writing about syncopated rhythms, riffs, app reviews and ear training.
What are you working on?

Take care and God Bless!



If you enjoyed this blog post, please consider following on Bloglovin'
Keep in touch with me on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, YouTube and Pinterest, too!


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

Related articles

• Amazing Story of Pilot Who Was Supposed to Fly Doomed 9/11 Flight

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 

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

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