A song dedicated to soldiers and veterans is turning the third grade at Colonial Heights' Tussing Elementary School into an Internet sensation.
The response from around the world has surprised music teacher Michael Souders, who co-wrote the song "Thank You Soldiers" with his wife, Angela, and posted the video on multiple video-hosting Web sites, including You Tube.
The third-graders gave a school performance after Veterans Day, and Souders wanted to write a song for the students to sing that was not just about the soldiers, but to them.
"I wanted to write one that would be very sweet from [the students'] hearts, from them singing directly to the veterans and soldiers," he said.
The three-minute video has the lyrics to the song displayed over photographs of soldiers past and present. The song opens by celebrating the ability to sleep peacefully at night while soldiers protect America's shores "in the air and oceans, too / Defending freedom at all cost."

While Souders never served in the military, he has a deep appreciation for those who do. "Not having served, I feel indebted more," he said.
Souders said the students received certificates from the Military Chaplains Association of the United States of America and Catholic War Veterans of the U.S.A. for the performance. The class also is receiving notes and e-mails from all over the world, from active-duty soldiers to veterans to their families.
Since being uploaded to You Tube and other Web sites early last month, the video has been viewed more than 15,000 times. The song has been played on various radio stations throughout the Richmond area.
"The real, real desire for that video [was] the more soldiers that get a thank-you, the better," Souders said. "It's almost become a class project, to see how many soldiers we can thank."
One thing is certain, Souders said: "They are going to remember; it's not something they'll soon forget."

I received this via an email with the same title of this post.

Aisne-Marne, France 2,289 American Military Dead




Ardennes, Belgium 5,329 American Military Dead




Brittany, France 4,410 American Military Dead




Brookwood, England 468 American Military Dead




Cambridge, England 3,812 American Military Dead




Epinal, France 5,525 American Military Dead




Flanders Field, Belgium 368 American Military Dead




Florence, Italy 4,402 American Military Dead




Henri-Chapelle, Belgium 7,792 American Military Dead




Lorraine, France 10,489 American Military Dead




Luxembourg 5,076 American Military Dead




Meuse-Argonne 14,246 American Military Dead




Netherlands 8,301 American Military Dead




Normandy, France 9,387 American Military Dead




Oise-Aisne, France 6,012 American Military Dead




Rhone, France 861 American Military Dead




Sicily 7,861 American Military Dead




Somme, France 1,844 American Military Dead




St. Mihiel, France 4,153 American Military Dead




Suresnes, France 1,541 American Military Dead

While the American President Obama was touring all of Europe, apologizing for American arrogance, how many French, Dutch, Italian, Belgian and British soldiers rested on American soil - having died defending the U.S.A. from our enemies?

As stated at the top, this all came to me via email - thanks to Dale Smith.

Article by Jeannie DeAngelis
at AmericanThinker.com

What a thrill to be invited to Latin Music night at the White House. Every Latino who mattered was there from J.Lo, to Eva Longoria-Parker, to Sonia Sotomayor. Unfortunately, Spc. Jesus O. Flores Jr. of La Mirada, California was not in attendance -- he was busy dodging the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Though irresolute on some issues Barack Obama has been right on schedule when it comes to supporting music and culture. According to one account, amidst the sober reality of wartime, "The Obama's are demonstrating a commitment to use the White House to promote the arts in a huge way."

Since day one, Obama hasn't missed a beat when it comes to drawing all kinds of celebrities and music groups to his monthly installments of music night. For Noche Latina, "Michelle and Barack Obama sat one table over from J.Lo and Marc Anthony, and all four of them were rocking in their seats as Sheila E. shook the house."

And while Shelia E. was "shaking the house" with that Latino beat, four soldiers in Kandahar province Afghanistan were being shaken on all sides by mortar fire as they patiently waited for the President to make a decision about sending troop reinforcements, which to date he has failed to do. Obama might as well be playing 3 on 3 with the guys, while a toddler stands in the street in the wake of an on-coming bus. His behavior is on par with swooshing a few more shots into the hoop before removing an endangered child from the path of a bus.

In an interview, Latino performer Romeo Santos averred that the President's support is a powerful tool in giving Latino music "mainstream respect." Obama has such a busy schedule garnering public support for Latino music he can't squeeze in time to meet with his Secretary of Defense and war commander General Stanley McChrystal?

According to Robert Gates, "It's just a matter now of getting the time with the president, when we can sort through these options and then tee them up for him to make a decision."

Twenty-eight soldiers from Fort Carson have died in the last two weeks alone. Generals in Afghanistan continue to lose soldiers as Obama drags his Mexican nortego dancing feet trying to make a decision about troop reinforcement. One can't help but wonder why gaining respect for Latino music is even on the President's roster.

Adventura lead singer Santo, scheduled to perform at Fiesta Latina, ecstatically said, "A lot of times minorities get treated like second-class citizens...it doesn't feel that way today." No need to worry Romeo, Spc. Jesus O. Flores Jr., and the rest of those serving in Afghanistan have been unofficially awarded the title of "second-class citizen" from the Commander-in-Chief, Barack Obama.

One has to wonder, if Obama was as indecisive about picking finger foods and dessert options for Fiesta night as he is about accepting the recommendation to send 40,000 troops from his commanding Generals in the field? American soldiers' lives hang in the balance while Obama, in an effort to foster culture and diversity at the White House, munches on Fresh Corn Polenta with Roasted Bacon in a Guajilio-Ancho Adobo with Jose Feliciano.

Regardless of his ethnicity, Flores likely would have preferred Obama spend his night concentrating on making a quick decision about a troop surge. Instead, the President chose to spend precious time delighting guests while making sure to not step on Thalia's toes "...who lured him onto the dance floor."

On Latin music night, Obama, extolling the virtues of diversity said, "...it is the same thing that's always made America great: the unique ability to celebrate our differences, while creating something new; to realize that although we may come from different backgrounds and different cultures, what unites us will always be stronger that what divides us." Obviously, Obama is so busy enjoying himself he failed to notice the diverse makeup of the US Military.

The U.S. Armed Forces are a reflection of America -- virtually every possible ethnic and religious group is represented. The military is a team of men and women from all over the United States working together with a single purpose: to protect our Nation and fight for freedom...where each service member is judged by his or her performance -- never by race, color, religion or gender. It has been said that if society as a whole were more like the military in this regard, the U.S. would be a better place.

Barack Obama could learn a thing or two from our Armed Forces.

The day after Fiesta Latina, Obama cooled his tired Salsa-heels, while the tents were disassembled, the white folding chairs were collapsed and the candied cacao swept from beneath the tables. At the same time, thousands of miles from the White House, Flores, part of diverse band of brothers, was fatally wounded when a Taliban planted bomb struck the vehicle he rode in.

According to deputy social secretary in charge of the White House music series, the President and First Lady, "...made it clear early on that they wanted to use their new home as a platform for the best and the brightest that America has to offer." It appears as if that elite group consists of people like Los Lobos, Tito "El Bambino" and Latino guest chef Maricel Presilla. Nowhere on the guest list were the names of Staff Sgt. Glen H. Stivison Jr., Spc. Daniel C. Lawson, and Pfc. Brandon M. Styer, all of whom died alongside, Jesus O. Flores Jr. waiting for Obama to send reinforcements.

If all goes well for the Obama's cultural music series, hopefully the four flag draped coffins arrive home before their deaths hamper the party atmosphere of Classical Music Night.

Lance Cpl. Roger G.M. Hager, a 2008 graduate of Western Alamance High School, died during Operation Enduring Freedom.

A public visitation and viewing will be held at Lowe Funeral Home in Burlington on S. Church Street starting at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, July 14.

The procession with Hager's body will leave the airport, head down Highway 62, also called Alamance Road, to South Church St. to Lowe Funeral Home. The address to the funeral home is 2205 S. Church St, Burlington.

The funeral will be held on Wednesday, July 15 at 2:00pm at the chapel in Lowe Funeral Home. The burial will follow at Gibsonville Cemetery on Springwood St.

Marine officials say Hager was a passenger in a Humvee that was destroyed by a roadside bomb. The incident happened in the Helmand Province in Afghanistan.

Elkin, NC -- Capt. Mark A. Garner, 30, commander of Company B, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, died of injuries sustained July 6, when an improvised explosive device detonated near a military convoy, striking his vehicle during combat operations in the Arghandab District of Afghanistan.

The visitation for Captain Garner will be held on Friday, July 17 at 6:00 pm at First Baptist Church of Elkin.

The funeral will be on Saturday, July 18 at 2:00 pm. A military processional will follow leaving from the church to East Main Street to Hollywood Cemetary.

The body will arrive on Wednesday, July 15 from Wilkes Regional Airport and proceed to Elkin.

A native of Elkin, N.C., Garner initially entered the Army in 2002, after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering.

Garner is survived by his wife Nickayla, father Donnie Ray and mother Elizabeth.

The church and family ask everyone to please remember to hang your yellow ribbons in memory of Capt. Mark Garner.