Honoring VETS ?

[Bill Greenwood]

There are going to be activities to honor military vets on Fri. at Airventure.
The singer is Tony Orlando, really, I am not making this up. I think EAA can and should do better than that. I didn't even know T O was still around, he is not exactly a current music star. I thnk Bob Uecker had more hits than Orlando. I know these vets are old guys, my Dad used to listen to Lawerence Welk, but Tony Orlando is to music as velvet paintings are to art. I have been to a lot of airshows in 34 years, but never once heard Orlando being played.
I guess money is a factor, and I'm sure they want a right winger which Orlando certainly is, but there have got to be others.I know Hank fits that label.
EAA is trying to attract some younger people. I don't think Orlando is going to be a real draw for that group.
How about Lee Greenwood, no relation by the way? Or Hank Williams, Jr.?There must be others.
I guess the best way is to let the vets make a choice.

[Zack Baughman]

Tony Orlando has a long history of honoring veterans Bill, especially those of the Vietnam era. The Honor Flight that leaves on Friday morning and returns Friday evening will be full of Vietnam veterans, and they will be welcomed back by Tony singing "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Ole Oak Tree," which is entirely appropriate! It's what the song is all about after all...

From his website:

Tony Orlando’s 1973 mega-hit “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round The Ole Oak Tree” has become an anthem of freedom, hope and homecoming, as well as a symbol to support our troops and for families waiting for loved ones to return home. The yellow ribbon has welcomed home soldiers and POWs from Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, the hostages from Iran, Troops from Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and the ongoing Operation Enduring Freedom. Orlando credits Bob Hope for weaving “Tie A Yellow Ribbon” into the moral fabric of America and starting a tradition that ultimately made the song a symbol of support for American Fighting forces.


“The first time I ever sang ‘Yellow Ribbon’ live was at the Cotton Bowl in 1973 in front of 70,000 people’” Orlando recalls. “I had been invited by Bob Hope to help welcome home our POW’s from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. The song wasn’t even a #1 hit yet. It was only #43 with a bullet on the charts,” explained Orlando. “I remember asking, ‘Mr. Hope, “Why did you choose me to open this special show?’ Bob Hope then turned to me and said, ‘Because Tony, when I heard your song on the radio, I told my wife Delores, that the opening line, ‘I’m coming home, I’ve done my time’ is every soldiers wish and every mother’s prayer. That is why YOU are the ONLY one who could open this show!’


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pkR1l4iSgE

[Hal Bryan]

Not to mention the fact that this particular Honor Flight is officially titled "The Yellow Ribbon Honor Flight"... :)

[Bill Greenwood]

Guys, I am not exactly the leading expert on the hot music scene, but you might check the calender, It is 2013, and 1973 was 40 years ago.
Whoever selected T O is way less hip than I am, and that is hard to do.

If EAA can't or doesn't want to pay for someone more current, then they ought to just play a recording of the great British singer Vera Lynn, how about WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER? a great song that I'll bet a lot of older vets listened to and meant something for back then.

I know a lot of these vets may be from the Nam era, but I'll bet they didn't have too many T O albums playing at home or in the barracks even back then.
As for the Cotton Bowl, well I grew up watching games there either in person or on tv. My first year was '64 when Ou went in ranked No. 1 after beating USC and Texas beat them. I saw Texas beat Notre Dame the first time, probably about '68 or 69. This was the famous comment from Royal when it was pointed out that N D had the no 1 run defense in the country, and Texas was not a good passing team. Royal said, "We"re gonna dance with the ones who brung us." and Texas won the game with a last minute ground touchdown.
Now by 73, I was in Colorado, and we were listening to Dylan, John Denver, and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. I had some rental apartments and one was rented by Jimmie Fadden of the Dirt Band. And if you say TO drew 70,000 to the Cotton Bowl, maybe it happened. But I sure don't recall any of my friends from back home being excited about TO.

Enuff said, but maybe give some thought for next year if you pick a music act. If they hurry, maybe they can lock up Wayne Newton before he gets all booked. Who knows, I might be all wrong, maybe this will start a new craze and polyester suits will be in every store window.
The vets flight to DC is of course a great idea, but I let the vets choose who music they want to listen on the flight and I doubt if TO will be the choice.

[Zack Baughman]

All I can really say is, for THIS particular Honor Flight on THIS particular occasion, Tony Orlando is THE perfect choice. Bill, I'll gladly supply you with ear plugs if the music offends you that much. ;)

[Bill Greenwood]

Zack, you yourself have the perfect sounding board with your Dad. Ask him first what singer he likes, and after he gives his answer then run the Tony Orlando idea by him. Maybe he is the no 1 choice for this event and vets of that era.

I did just speak to a friend of mine who grew up in Texas, was there the whole time and is Nam era, age 71,but was not it the military. I asked him what he remembered about Tony Orlando, and he said, "WHO?" He never heard of him. He lives in Austin which was and is a vibrant music scene, but our folks from back in the 70's are like Janis Joplin and Willie Nelson. Willie is still going strong, bet the vets would love him.

This wouldn't be the first time that I was off in left field.
If I ever write anything on any forum that most people agree with, then I'll know that I am getting senile, and losing my touch.

In all seriousness, which is a condition that I don't like to dwell in too long, the idea of honoring the vets is what counts,more than any particular method.

EAA might consider giving them a dinner at the museum or a nice tent on the grounds with some good food and good beer or a glass of nice wine.

Thanks for the earplug offer, but I always bring some to Osh, you never know when some jet or T-28 is going to fly by.

[Zack Baughman]

It's funny that you mentioned my dad. My parents happened to be in town for the past three days, and last night I mentioned to them that Tony Orlando would be singing in honor of the veterans coming back from the Honor Flight, and Dad immediately sang out the first line of the song, "I'm coming home, I've done my time." He knew what it was about right away.

Then again, my folks have been to Branson, and Tony Orlando is a major act down there where he has done a lot to honor veterans of all eras.

[Jim Hann]

Thanks guys, now I've the an earworm of that song!!!! :-)

If the vets don't like it then we have a problem. If others who are not veterans don't like it please keep it to yourselves, it is about the VETS.
30863087
Jim
(medically disqualified when I tried to enlist out of high school)

[Bill Greenwood]

Zack, obviously you have it right from the horse's mouth, so to speak about what singer that era of vets like,and I was mistaken.

One caution, I am sure your Dad is good at keeping a secret. As for me I had a "Secret" clearance when I was in the service, not "Top Secret" since my unit did comm work also. Now I never gave any secrets to the enemy, but then again, I didn't know any secrets either, certainly not any that they felt they wanted.
But you might want to keep this Tony Orlando thing under wraps and only on a "need to know basis".
Otherwise you are going to be mobbed by young folks trying to get in the see him and get an autograph. They will be coming over the fences like shades of Woodstock, or maybe like the day after Thanksgiving sale at Walmart. How will EAA handle the crowds of thousands?

And it is really fortuitous that EAA has locked up Tony for this year as I hear rumors that he is going to be the opening act for the Stones in their world tour next year, and thus not available. Have you heard this also?

And by the way Jim Hann, I did enlist so technically I am a vet. But either way, I would not tell you that you should "keep your opinion to yourself". I think you or I or anyone, no matter what opinion they have, has a right to express it. Isn't one of the principles that our country was founded on, as contained in the Constitution?

[John Leidel]

I don't think having Tony Orlando is anything to do with being a "right winger" but specifically that song. I remember it well. 1973 was the first year I went to Oshkosh with my brother and I was 7 years old. That song was on the radio all the time. My oldest brother served during Vietnam, thankfully stateside at Nike Hercules base. My other brother that took me to Oshkosh and the Burlington show in 1973 was one round away from being drafted when they called off the draft. Although I was young at the time I fully appreciate the stress of that war and the fear of my brother possibly getting shipped off and not coming back. That song brings back memories of that time.

[RV8505]

I don't think having Tony Orlando is anything to do with being a "right winger" but specifically that song. I remember it well. 1973 was the first year I went to Oshkosh with my brother and I was 7 years old. That song was on the radio all the time. My oldest brother served during Vietnam, thankfully stateside at Nike Hercules base. My other brother that took me to Oshkosh and the Burlington show in 1973 was one round away from being drafted when they called off the draft. Although I was young at the time I fully appreciate the stress of that war and the fear of my brother possibly getting shipped off and not coming back. That song brings back memories of that time.


Plus 1.:thumbsup:

[scuba72]

As a vet, I cannot speak for all, but our families still tie a yellow ribbon around a tree to signify a loved one is deployed. I was never a big fan of TO (but Dawn, whatever happened to her?). Even though I wasn't a fan, that one song still means a lot to me. I have come home from a long deployment and have seen a yellow ribbon tied around a tree in my front yard. Let me tell you it will bring tears to your eyes and that song will be playing in your head. The Dixie Chicks were pretty controversial, but the song Traveling Solder was a pretty good tribute to Vietnam vets too.

Suck it up. We don't go to Airventure for the Headlining stars. We go for the total experience, the friends, the education, and the airplanes.

Dave in Missouri. Retired MSgt, USAF

[Floatsflyer]

I was never a big fan of TO (but Dawn, whatever happened to her?)
Dave in Missouri. Retired MSgt, USAF

Dawn was not a "her". Dawn was 2 hers, those superb vocalist back-up singers who came from the famous R&B and Soul labels, Motown and Stax Records. Does anyone remember TO & Dawn also had a popular TV variety show that ran 3 seasons from 1974-76.

Hear are some more hit TO & Dawn Earworms for you all: Candida; Knock Three Times; He Don't Love You Like I love You; Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsie Rose.

Hope you can all get to sleep tonight, especially you Bill(because I know deep down inside, you're a closet TO & Dawn fan that's just screaming to get out. C'mon, don't be defensive, admit it, you'll feel better in the morning).

[JimRice85]

And there was the old joke about Tony coming up missing. He was later found early one morning at the crack of Dawn.

I remember the TO show...not Terrell Owens.

[psvinny]

@Zack, You are so right. This is the right choice. Tony Orlando may not have a current hit on the charts and maybe he can't hit all the notes he used to but he carried the hearts of so many families waiting for their Veterans to return home. Another example is Jim Nabors. Is he the best singer around, no, but I would not want to see anyone else sing "Back Home In Indiana" before the Indy 500. The veterans deserve the best we can do to honor them and in this case Tony Orlando and Gary Sinise are the best.

[Al Burgemeister]

The Yellow Ribbon Honor Flight is going to do it again at Airventure 2014. See http://www.eaa.org/en/airventure/eaa-airventure-news-and-multimedia/eaa-airventure-news/eaa-airventure-oshkosh/2014-05-15-yellow-ribbon-honor-flight-ii-to-depart-eaa-airventure-oshkosh-2014. For a story about last year's YRHF, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHCnnMnPUCM. Tony Orlando may not have been my favorite entertainer but he sang one of the themes of the time.

Quang Tri '68-'69

[Bill Greenwood]

I wonder how many vets really know the history of that song that they think is about coming home from Nam. It is not about the Vietnam War and not even about any soldiers. I was curious and looked it up on google, etc. And according to the man who wrote the song, it is actually about a criminal who has been in prison and is coming home after finishing his sentence and not knowing how he will be welcomed thus the yellow ribbon to show he is welcome. And the song doesn't say anything about fighting or Vietnam. I Finished school back then, in 1968 and was in the service, but I am glad that I never went to Vietnam. Of all the wars we have had as a country, it seems like the worst with perhaps the exception of the Civil War, and of all the Presidents that we had Nixon was surely one of the worst. I am glad that neither I nor my sons ever did any dying or killing for Nixon, but a lot of other people's kids did.

[Mike M]

I signed up in '66. Retired '90. USN. "Kansas City Lights" is about coming home from Navy deployment. "Last train to Clarksville" is about an Army soldier going to Vietnam. Kris's "Vietnam Blues" is also about orders to 'Nam, actually written by a soldier. "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" isn't about the John Wayne movie. It's about a guy getting out of prison. When the first yellow ribbons started going up for servicemembers after that song, I thought, "what an insult." But hey, returning convicts, returning vets, all the same, right? Yeah, right.

[rwanttaja]

I wonder how many vets really know the history of that song that they think is about coming home from Nam. It is not about the Vietnam War and not even about any soldiers. I was curious and looked it up on google, etc. And according to the man who wrote the song, it is actually about a criminal who has been in prison and is coming home after finishing his sentence and not knowing how he will be welcomed thus the yellow ribbon to show he is welcome.

Yep. Then again, how many politicians have used "Born in the USA" as a theme song...?

But the yellow ribbon tradition far, FAR pre-dates Tony Orlando....

Around her neck, she wore a yellow ribbon
She wore it in the springtime, and in the month of May
And if you asked, whyever did she wear it,
She wore it for her lover, in the US Cavalry

CAVALRY!

CAVALRY!

She wore it for her lover in the US Cavalry!

Ron "Where's John Agar when you need him" Wanttaja

[FlyingRon]

That Yellow Ribbon is much better semblance than the Tony Orlando song about some guy getting out of the slammer.

The use of the TO thing seems to have started with the Iranian Embassy Hostages, but kind of snowballed from there. I don't recall any use of that from the Vietnam War. It didn't even come out until 1973. The US was officially out of the war before it was released. I do remember POW bracelets and the bulk of the POWs were repatriated before that song was a hit several months later.

And I'm not sure that was a joke or not, but Dawn isn't someone's name (the usual joke is I know which one Tony is, but which one is Orlando and which is Dawn) but the name of the entire group (the group has had up to 4 female backup singers on the record later switched to two singers who toured with the group). In fact for the release of Tie A Yellow Ribbon, it was listed as "Dawn featuring Tony Orlando", so it's clearly the name of the group, not just the background singers behind TO.

[Bill Greenwood]

If you really want to honor the Nam vets don't take any half way measures. Get each and every one, custom fitted to their current size, a nice bright colored polyester suit, complete with flare pants legs like Tony used to wear.

[rwanttaja]

If you really want to honor the Nam vets don't take any half way measures. Get each and every one, custom fitted to their current size, a nice bright colored polyester suit, complete with flare pants legs like Tony used to wear.
But...but...then I won't stand out when I wear mine! :-)

There's no "secret" to what the song is about; it's right in the lyrics ("I'm really still in prison, and my love she holds the key..."). The song, and the yellow-ribbon tradition, has been embraced by a lot of veterans and their families. Most folks only know the chorus, anyway....

Ron Wanttaja

[Mike M]

Most folks only know the chorus, anyway....Ron Wanttaja

how true. and they don't know all the verses of the USA national anthem, either. oh well. serenity to accept the things i cannot change, please, double helping. p.s. yes i knew about yellow ribbons and the cavalry, that's why i mentioned the John Wayne movie.

www.imdb.com/title/tt0041866/

[RV8505]

I wonder how many vets really know the history of that song that they think is about coming home from Nam. It is not about the Vietnam War and not even about any soldiers. I was curious and looked it up on google, etc. And according to the man who wrote the song, it is actually about a criminal who has been in prison and is coming home after finishing his sentence and not knowing how he will be welcomed thus the yellow ribbon to show he is welcome. And the song doesn't say anything about fighting or Vietnam. I Finished school back then, in 1968 and was in the service, but I am glad that I never went to Vietnam. Of all the wars we have had as a country, it seems like the worst with perhaps the exception of the Civil War, and of all the Presidents that we had Nixon was surely one of the worst. I am glad that neither I nor my sons ever did any dying or killing for Nixon, but a lot of other people's kids did.Let's not forget Kennedy started that war and Lyndon Johnson greatly expanded that war and Nixon was left to pick up the peices.

[FlyingRon]

how true. and they don't know all the verses of the USA national anthem,\

I'd settle for them standing and shutting up during the Anthem. I can see the pain on those in uniform who snap to attention and salute only to hear some bimbo continue to chatter away on her cellphone throughout the anthem.

[Mike Berg]

Or some country western or rock star singing our National Anthem and feeling they have to 'put their mark on it' while singing off key and murdering the tune. If you notice the military groups never do that and besides whatever happened to everyone standing with their hand over their hearts and singing along with the band? It was Bob Hoover that told a couple of young girls to get up and show respect their country while the National Anthem was being played.

[Bill Greenwood]

For
rMike Beg. re putting your hand over your heart. I don't recall anyone ever doing it until recently . growng up, people stood for the National Antheum, but putting ones hand over heart was only for the Pledge of Allegance which we rarely hear nowadays.

[Mike Berg]

Bill, you may be correct although I notice many of the NASCAR drivers do so (which may be recent). Having said that, I'll go with Bob Hoover's statement and I still dislike those who mutilate our National Anthem. I may be biased as I used to sing it (in my younger days) for many athletic events and also at my air force reunion in Michigan several years ago.

[FlyingRon]

36 USC 301
a) Designation.— The composition consisting of the words and music known as the Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem.
(b) Conduct During Playing.— During a rendition of the national anthem—(1) when the flag is displayed—(A) individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note;
(B) members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute in the manner provided for individuals in uniform; and
(C) all other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; and

(2) when the flag is not displayed, all present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed.

[RV8505]

36 USC 301
a) Designation.— The composition consisting of the words and music known as the Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem.
(b) Conduct During Playing.— During a rendition of the national anthem—(1) when the flag is displayed—(A) individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note;
(B) members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute in the manner provided for individuals in uniform; and
(C) all other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; and

(2) when the flag is not displayed, all present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed.



The groups I belong to all do it!

[Mike Berg]

As an Air Force vet I still salute.

[FlyingRon]

The groups I belong to all do it!

I only became aware of it a few years back but at least I stood quietly at attention during the playing. Frankly, while I do it now, I'd settle for people standing up and shutting up during the anthem.