Boogie Woogie and Battle Hymns for Memorial Day

Memorial Day originated after the Civil War, and commemorates soldiers fallen in battle. Record Bin Roulette salutes with song and video.

One of the best-known songs that honor our soldiers comes from an actual soldier, Ssgt. Barry Sadler, who served in the Vietnam War. “Ballad of the Green Beret” was #1 on the Billboard charts for 5 weeks during the War in 1966. This is possibly the most boring music video ever made:

An iconic song from the WWII era is “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”, performed by The Andrews Sisters. It appeared in the 1941 Abbott & Costello film Buck Private:

This 1966 bubblegum hit set during WWI may send you diving for the nearest foxhole. It’s The Royal Guardsmen and “Snoopy vs. The Red Baron”:

An important song for Memorial Day is “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”, written by social activist Julia Ward Howe in 1861, following a visit with President Lincoln. Here’s Orson Welles with a dramatic tribute to Ms. Howe and her composition: