Thank A Vet

"Thank A Vet" is orchestrated in a sober, respectful march style. Beginning with a brass choir, instrumentation also includes snares and percussion, piano, bass, and clarinets. The melody line is slow and simple, easily accessible to all age groups. It breaks into an optional three parts when it climaxes on the second to last line. The last chorus also offers two small solo lines for variety. As with all Veterans Day songs, the cross curricular possibilities are obvious.

We've learned of a really cool gesture going around to honor veterans. It serves as an ideal choreography to accompany the words "thank a vet" each time it is sung. On the word "thank," place your hand over your heart. On the word "vet," swoop your hand out, down, and away, as though you are handing out something. And at the same time, offer a small respectful nod or bow. Make enough of a nod or bow to be noticed, but not so much that the listener loses the word "vet." The gesture means "we thank you from the bottom of our hearts." Wouldn't it be awesome to have all the veterans in your audience stand at the completion of the song? Then have your choir, along with the remainder of the audience, offer them this gesture of thanks in tandem? Better have tissues handy.