Aaron appreciates Billy Joel's music, and as an 8th grader invited back to his elementary school by his former principal for this assembly, he chose to honor the Veterans with this song and a salute. Singing begins at about 1:45.
Aaron, I’m a military spouse, my partner flew rotor wing. We have friends who flew in Vietnam & those who fly all the way up to today. We play this song every single Memorial Day. I promise you that YOUR version will be the one we play from now on. You not only did this song proud, you made ME proud of your talent, your grace, your commitment. Please know this will be shared with all our brothers & sisters. You’ve honored us and I thank you.
What a kind and encouraging thing to say. This is my son - he was 13 at the time and had been invited back to his elementary school for their annual Veteran's Day celebration. He was invited to sing the two previous years but wanted to branch out and sing something new, and this event also grew to include more veterans. He has continued singing - has been in a couple national honors choirs as well as state and all-state choirs, and he's in a lovely high school vocal ensemble. This performance holds special memories. He really wanted it to be meaningful for those who have served. Thanks, again!
Thank you I was an air force medic and I saved a life one night it feels good knowing that man is probable enjoying life somewhere. Our 9 year old grand daughter told her teacher I was a 15 minure hero
That helicopter sound is the sound of the workhorse helo the Bell UH-1 Iroquois, lovingly nicknamed the "Huey". I heard this sound every day, all day long on TV News for a dozen years. To this day, I can recognize the Huey...and cry.
Joel was never in Vietnam but he was able to write this song just by listening to his friends who fought in Vietnam - that's all we need to do, listen to their perspectives and know what they really need. Helping out war veterans may go a long way but it is not a complex art at all if more people just talked to them.
Too many people abuse our disabled and/or mentally ill and/or homeless Veterans. Too many people are lacking in sympathy, compassion and willingness to understand. Some day, when people learn it is not all about themselves, it will be too late. *God Bless Our Homeless Veterans.* Too many Veterans from the days of Vietnam are in that group.
I avoided watching this for a long time because I didn’t think a child singing this to veterans was going to do it justice and not pay the respect they deserve. I WAS WRONG. That was beautiful.
Thank you, on behalf of my son. He's been singing since he could breathe - 8 years through upper elementary through high school of voice lessons, has now found a passion in vocal jazz in college. Thank you so much for your comment!
wow. Very powerful to sing that with the veterans there. My favorite line "and who was wrong , and who was right, it didn't matter in the thick of the fight"
I was in Vietnam 1969-70 when I was older. Not the average of 18 or so. 22 and like most others came back much older. I have never heard this song but in lisstening it does describe Saigon. I suppose I too look as old as these other vetereans. And, I appreciate hearing the song now. What a voice this young person has. I thank him.
WOW! That was as touching as any professional presentation--and what a great voice--he didn't miss a lick. Thank you, Aaron, for doing something I don't believe those veterans will easily forget.
I just learned of this song a couple days ago and wow. I'm in tears and impressed with his singing ability but also how powerful this video is. To see the veterans reacting to the song is just something else.
Excellentendition and important for children at that age to hear it. Remembering my father..Alfred Nemirow Lieutenant in the air force Korean Conflict.
That young man is blessed with an incredible voice, a beautiful heart and the ability and willingness to share his gifts. God Bless Him. Thank You Aaron. 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
My father was a public high school teacher - 1961-1990. He wrote letters for those who didn’t want to be drafted and he wrote letters for those who were, and thought they were doing their best. This is an amazing rendition of an incredible song during an interminable time.
Damn! He was spectacular. Aaron, you did those vets proud. (and Billy Joel). You could see the emotion on those guy's faces and he so deserved that standing ovation.
Crying. Was a child in the 60s and there was always the war on tv and the front page every single day. When it ended I thought, hmmm, a world without war....how will that be.
Thanks Aaron for that great performance, you've got the chops dude. I sing about 30 Billy Joel Songs, hitting various karaoke bars, and I only sing this one where there are older folks because I know there will be veterans there. The younger folks won't understand it. I'm 61 and missed Vietnam, thank God, but I have the utmost respect and reverence for those that fought for their kids, their parents, their families, for their country. I always tell the crowd that Billy Joel, with this song, has acquired a very high art. This song is the most emotional song I have ever sung and it brings forth emotion, feelings, and sometimes anger from those that don't understand it. Whether you agree or disagree with US policy regarding Vietnam, one should still respect the men and women that fought for us, because their courage is still courage whether you think it was misdirected or not. And, a special thanks to Billy Joel, whose musicianship birthed a little jewel, that I so enjoy singing. This isn't a song that got a lot of radio time (my assumption), it wasn't about that, Billy didn't do it for the money, he did it for the troops, and what a great gift he gave to them and all of us out of the goodness of his heart. Thanks vets and thanks Billy!
This was beautiful. I don't agree with the policymakers who sent our boys to Vietnam, but the courage of those veterans is the same regardless. They risked their lives to do what their country asked, and this is a wonderful tribute.
A nice version! This song gets me every time because Billy Joel just lays it out so well. There is a musician friend of all of us in our local music scene we all look up to as a mentor. He is a Vietnam combat vet. He organized the traveling 'Moving Wall" to be set up in a local historic park. It's a traveling smaller version of the Vietnam Memorial wall that goes across the country. He got a nice turnout for it, but knew a lot of his veteran buddies and acquaintances didn't come to see it. I heard from a couple who agreed that they appreciated what our friend did but they just couldn't go see it. It would be too much to bear, too emotional. That war was just crazy. So many names on that wall. It really affects you. Having watched the Ken Burns documentary you see why it was so traumatic for the soldiers who fought there. It felt like the U.S. almost treated the soldiers like they were expendable and the missions seemed recklessly dangerous. But that's a heavy topic for another day.
Aaron you did a beautiful job with your sweet voice. I can't help but to shed tears whenever I hear this song, it catches the war and what it must've been like.
Hopefully the stupidly inexplicable RU-vid algorithm will finally catch sometime soon eventually- this cover was done better than any other and it should have had a million views the first week it was uploaded
My uncles were in nam one delivered supplies to marines in the jungle, the other was a,seabee. My aunt was,an army nurse at a,mash type hospital, my cousin was a green beret. Very good cover of this song. The veterans seemed to like it.
Well done Young man! Certain you touched many hearts mine included. Kudos to your mentors who shared the music and recognized the amazing gift you have in speaking to our souls.
There was no directive for any school staff member to sensor the lyrics. We made a decision to change a word in light of the fact that the entire elementary student body was present for this. The change, with that in mind, was appropriate.
Very well done because it is a very difficult song of course Billy Joel can play it, and it seems easy but it is really difficult to sing, Aaron good job Greetings from the Netherlands
