Irving Berlin and the classic song "God Bless America!" - American Minute with Bill Federer

December 02, 2023 • Irving Berlin & the classic song "God Bless America!"

Irving Berlin was born in Russia, the son of a Jewish rabbi, on May 11, 1888. At 4-years-old, he immigrated with his family to New York.

Falling in love with America, he served as a U.S. infantry sergeant in World War I.

He later wrote some of the nation's most popular songs, including:

"I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas";

"Remember";

"Always";

"Alexander's Ragtime Band";

Annie Get Your Gun - "There's No Business like Show Business"; “Anything You Can Do”; “I Got The Sun In The Morning”;
Ziegfeld Follies - "A Pretty Girl is like a Melody";
"Blue Skies";
"Easter Parade."

Irving Berlin wrote the Broadway musical, "This is the Army," which was made into a 1943 film starring Ronald Reagan.

President Harry S Truman awarded Irving Berlin the Army's Medal of Merit in 1945 for: "Extraordinary service as creator and producer of the musical revue, This Is the Army."

Irving Berlin's composed his rendition of a patriotic hymn "God Bless America" in 1917.

It was introduced to the public in 1938 on an Armistice Day radio broadcast, sung by Kate Smith. In 1940, she sang it at both the Democrat National Convention and the Republican National Convention.

Kate Smith stated:

"During the presidential primaries of 1940, I received a request from the Democratic National Committee to sing God Bless America before the speeches."

Irving Berlin gave all the royalties from the song, over $100,000, to the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

The original Boy Scout Oath stated:

"On my honor I will do my best:

To do my duty to God and my country; and

To obey the Scout Law;

To help other people at all times;

To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight."

The original Girl Scout Promise stated:

"On my honor, I will try:

To do my duty to God and my country;

To help other people at all times;

To obey the Girl Scout laws."

In 1954, President Eisenhower signed a Congressional Bill awarding Irving Berlin a Congressional Gold Medal:

"In recognition of his services in composing many popular songs, including 'God Bless America.'"

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."

In 1977, Irving Berlin received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Ford.

"God Bless America" was recorded by many popular artists, musical groups, and Armed Forces bands, including:

Bing Crosby;
Barry Wood;
Gene Autry;
Celine Dion;
LeAnn Rimes;
Horace Heidt orchestra;
West Point Band;
Mormon Tabernacle Choir;

John Wayne Celebrity Ensemble with Lucille Ball, Jack Benny, Dan Blocker, Rosco Lee Brown, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Roy Clark, Bing Crosby, Phyllis Diller, Lorne Greene, Celeste Holm, Bob Hope, Michael Landon, Ann-Margret, Dean Martin, Ross Martin, Ed McMahon, Greg Morris, David Nelson, Rick Nelson, Hugh O'Brien, Doodletown Pipers, Dan Rowan, Dick Martin, Rowan and Martin, William Shatner, Red Skelton, Tom Smothers, Leslie Uggams, and Dennis Weaver.

On October 12, 2001, Congressman Mike Castle of Delaware stated:

"In the aftermath of September 11 ... Republicans and Democrats burst into that song of the same name by Irving Berlin on the steps of the U.S. Capitol ... It was a slogan for peace."

Billy Graham stated:

"We are more united than ever before.

I think this was exemplified in a very moving way when the members of our Congress stood shoulder to shoulder the other day and sang God Bless America."

Irving Berlin wrote:

"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!"

During the Cold War, a socialist tactic began to be implemented in the educational system called "deconstruction."

It is a type of cultural "gene-replacement" therapy whereby a country's past heroes are portrayed in a negative light so students emotionally detach from them.

This is followed by a period of disillusionment, searching, and division. Then a rewritten history is introduced, indoctrinating youth with new socialist values.

Dystopian writer George Orwell explained:

"Those who control the past control the future, and those who control the present control the past."

U.S. Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall, 1902-1949, stated:

"There was a time in these United States when youth was inspired by -- heroes ...

Along with our higher education came a debunking contest ... a sort of national sport ... It was smarter to revile than to revere ... more fashionable to depreciate than to appreciate ...

Debunking is ... a sign of decaying foundations."

J. Edgar Hoover wrote in the introduction to U.S. Senate Chaplain Edward Lee Roy Elson's book America's Spiritual Recovery, 1954:

"We can see all too clearly the devastating effects of secularism on our Christian way of life. The period when it was smart to 'debunk' our traditions undermined ... high standards of conduct.

A rising emphasis on materialism caused a decline of 'God-centered' deeds and thoughts."

Billy Graham's daughter, Anne Graham Lotz, stated:

"For years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out.

How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"

President Eisenhower stated for the American Legion Back-To-God Program, February 20, 1955:

"The Founding Fathers ... recognizing God as the author of individual rights, declared that the purpose of Government is to secure those rights ...

Without God, there could be no American form of Government, nor an American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first - the most basic - expression of Americanism."

Calling for unity, President Ronald Reagan stated in his Second Inaugural Address, January 21, 1985:

"With heart and hand, let us stand as one today: One people under God determined that our future shall be worthy of our past ...

There is no story more heartening in our history than the progress that we have made toward the 'brotherhood of man' that God intended for us ...

For all our problems, our differences, we are together as of old, as we raise our voices to the God who is the Author of this most tender music.

And may He continue to hold us close as we fill the world with our sound ... dedicated to the dream of freedom that He has placed in the human heart, called upon now to pass that dream on to a waiting and hopeful world ... God bless you and may God bless America."