Hauntingly Beautiful Musical Tribute To Our Fallen Military Heroes - "Going Home"

This video is dedicated to the memory of our fallen servicemen and servicewomen. It features music adapted and rearranged from the song "Goin Home" by William Arms Fisher. The video also contains rare color film footage and photographs of military personnel. The footage was taken during World War II and the Vietnam War. Additional footage depicts more recent conflicts. These include the Iraq War and the conflict in Afghanistan.

The historic and rare color motion picture footage depicted was shot during the epic Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II.

Memorial Day commemorates our fallen members of the military. It falls on the last Monday in May. But, in truth, every day, not just one day a year, we should remember and honor the soldiers, marines, airmen and sailors who gave their lives for the United States. Without their sacrifices, America would not be a free country.

Indeed, the willingness of prior generations of Americans to give up their very lives for our liberty should inspire us today. We must be vigilant. We must combat any attempts to curtail Americans' freedoms. No matter where such threats may emanate from. We must fight with our votes, our voices, and our wallets.

On Memorial Day, we will be having barbecues and family get-togethers. At those events, let us all be mindful of more than just the hot dogs and the hamburgers. Let us resolve to do our part to preserve American freedom for our generation. And for generations yet unborn.

Regarding the music in the video, William Fisher himself, in arranging the song, adapted themes from the second movement of Anton Dvorak's New World Symphony. That second movement is also commonly referred to as the "Largo."

Interestingly, Dvorak intentionally composed the musical themes in the New World Symphony in the style of what he regarded as uniquely American music. Namely, African American "spirituals" and Native American music.

In the video, the vocalist is Marc Berman. Berman also arranged the music (for strings and English Horn) and modified the original lyrics.

The battle of Iwo Jima, depicted in the film featured in the video, cost the lives of nearly 7000 Marines. It took place in the Pacific theater. The battle ran from February 19, 1945 through March 16, 1945.

Iwo Jima is one of the Japanese Volcano Islands. It lies about 750 miles south of Tokyo. The island is dominated by Mount Suribachi, 554 feet high. The mountain’s summit is where the famous flag raising depicted in the video occurred. That was on February 23, 1945. Tragically, several of the marines involved were later killed in the battle.

Keep America Free!

Note on copyright: “Goin Home,” was composed by William Arms Fisher (April 27, 1861 – December 18, 1948) in 1922. It was first published by the Oliver Ditson Company that same year. The "New World Symphony was composed by Anton Dvorak (September 8, 1841 – May 1, 1904). The Symphony was first performed in 1893. It was published the following year. Thus, both works are in the public domain. Likewise in the public domain are any musical arrangements consulted and /or utilized (with original modifications) in the video. All photographs, films and other graphical images appearing in the video are in the public domain, owned by this channel or lawfully used under a Creative Commons license/copyright waiver.