Irving Berlin (May 11, 1888-September 22, 1989) was a Russian-born American songwriter. The son of a rabbi, he was four-years old when he came with his family to New York. He served as a U.S. infantry sergeant during World War I. His works include: Remember; Always; Alexander's Ragtime Band; There's No Business Like Show Business, Easter Parade; and White Christmas. In 1945, President Harry S. Truman awarded him the Medal of Merit for:
<Extraordinary service as creator and producer of the musical revue, This Is the Army.> 1888IB001
In 1954, President Eisenhower signed a Congressional bill awarding Berlin a Congressional Gold Medal:
<In recognition of his services in composing many popular songs, including "God Bless America."> 1888IB002
Upon receiving the medal, February 19, 1955, Irving Berlin commented to President Eisenhower:
<To me, "God Bless America" was not just a song but an expression of my feeling toward the country to which I owe what I have and what I am.> 1888IB003
Though Irving Berlin wrote 'God Bless America' in 1917, it was not introduced to the public until 1938 when Kate Smith sang it on an Armistice Day radio broadcast.
Berlin gave all the royalties from the song, approximately $100,000, to the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts of America.
<While the storm clouds gather, far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.
God Bless America,
Land that I Love,
Stand Beside Her, and Guide Her,
Through the Night, with the Light From Above,
From the Mountains, to the Prairies,
To the Oceans White with Foam,
God Bless America, My Home Sweet Home,
God Bless America, My Home Sweet Home!> 1888IB004
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1888IB001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Irving Berlin, 1945, President Harry S. Truman awarded Irving Berlin the Medal of Merit for the musical revue, This Is the Army. The World Book Encyclopedia, 18 vols. (Chicago, IL: Field Enterprises, Inc., 1957; W.F. Quarrie and Company, 8 vols., 1917; World Book, Inc., 22 vols., 1989), Vol. 2, p. 757.
1888IB002. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Irving Berlin, February 19, 1955, in a comment to President Eisenhower upon receiving the Congressional Gold Medal. James Beasely Simpson, Best Quotes of '54, '55, '56 (New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1957), p. 173.
1888IB003. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Irving Berlin, 1954, President Eisenhower's signing of U.S. Congressional bill authorizing a gold medal for Irving Berlin. The World Book Encyclopedia, 18 vols. (Chicago, IL: Field Enterprises, Inc., 1957; W.F. Quarrie and Company, 8 vols., 1917; World Book, Inc., 22 vols., 1989), Vol. 2, p. 757.
1888IB004. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Irving Berlin, 1938, in the patriotic hymn he composed titled, God Bless America. John Bartlett, Bartlett's Familiar Quotations (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1855, 1980), p. 802. Tim LaHaye, Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth & Hyatt, Inc., 1987), p. 96. (ed. note: The song may actually have been written about 20 years earlier, but Berlin felt it was not the right time for it's release.-from Larry King Live, taped 12-27-94).