Peace of Heart Choir Sings
at James J. Peters VA Medical Center
on Veteran’s Day
By Carrie Wesolowski
Photos by Frank Asencio
Greeting and cake at the Bronx VA on Veterans Day.
One of the signs inside the James J. Peters VA Medical Center reads: "Thank you for your service to America. It's our turn to serve you."
And on this Veteran's Day it wasn't just food being served to our veterans courtesy of local restaurant Caridad but Peace of Heart Choir serving up musical nourishment for the soul.
With words from the chaplain, a blessing from the rabbi and The Pledge of Allegiance, we were off and running. Surrounded by flags, red, white, and blue balloons, Veteran's Day banners, and various other examples of patriotic fare, our voices rose above the lively chatter in the room as we sang with the Bronx skyline at our backs to a full house—approximately 200 people--beginning with our Siyahamba/Shosholoza combo.
Nancy Gross sings solo on Over the Rainbow/It’s a Wonderful World.
Audience members showed their appreciation and there was enthusiastic applause throughout our concert. As Nancy sang her solo in Over the Rainbow/It’s a Wonderful World, a female audience member began recording with her cell phone as she smiled and sang along, throwing her arms up in the air.
The same lady held her chest and exclaimed, “You sing it!” as Lis sang the lovely America the Beautiful. I think that was perhaps the quietest the room got—feeling the poignancy of the occasion and the beauty of the song which clearly resonated with our audience.
There was that same poignant feeling when Andy performed his heartfelt original song, Live While You're Alive, and recalled his own father's experiences at the VA and his own family connections to Veteran's Day and had a special shout-out to Marv, one of our own and a veteran himself.
Andy Marino performs Live While You’re Alive.
Before you knew it, we had come to our closing song, Let There Be Peace on Earth featuring a solo by Cheryl. After the concert, we were invited to stay and eat with our audience.
The choir had spent this Veteran's Day in a most fitting way—honoring all who served.
In Harmony,
Carrie Wesolowski, Alto 1