“If you’re reading this,
then I didn’t make it home
But for every dream that’s shattered,
another one comes true
This car was once a dream of mine,
Now it belongs to you”

“Riding with Private Malone” - David Ball

David Ball is still an active part of the country music scene, coming up on 50 years since he first began recording in the late 1980s. Born to a Baptist minister and concert pianist, Ball chose music over the pulpit, and he’s played every instrument on stage over his career in Nashville, getting his start originally as a bass guitar player when he was in high school.

Though he has recorded seven studio albums and had 14 songs reach country charts, he’s really had two peak moments in his music career. In 1994, his single “Thinkin’ Problem” reached No. 2. He then waited until 2001 before “Riding with Private Malone” peaked at the same chart position.

The song was written by songwriters Wood Newton and Thom Shepherd and released in August 2001. The release timing certainly played into the song, as the song rapidly accelerated up the charts after the September 11 attacks, less than a month after the song’s debut.

The lyrics tell the story of a young man who purchases a car through a classified ad, discovering when he arrives that the car is a classic Corvette. As he worked to get the car running well, he found a note in the glovebox from the car’s previous owner, a young man who presumably left to fight in Vietnam and never returned.

On Monday, we celebrate Memorial Day. Elsewhere in this edition, you’ll find a list of a number of Memorial Day programs that are happening around the area. I’d strongly encourage you to find one and attend it. I’ve had the honor of speaking and/or singing at a number of such programs in my life, and it truly is a special time to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

That is what we’re all gathering for on Monday, right?

Not the beginning of summer, not to watch a race, not to grill hot dogs and burgers, not to take a vacation as a family with a three-day weekend. Right?

In baseball writing and analysis, Memorial Day is used as a measuring stick to determine when early-season fluctuations begin to be reality rather than a short hot or cold streak.

Originally known as Decoration Day, the celebration claims many origins, but the basic premise of each origin story was to lay flowers or spend time visiting the graves of fallen soldiers of the Civil War.

The first national observance was declared on May 30, 1868, specifically to honor Union soldiers in the Civil War. By 1890, every Union state adopted the celebration as an annual event. After World War I, it was nationally observed as recognizing all soldiers who fought and died while in service. Congress moved the observation to the last Monday in May in 1968 and changed the name of the holiday to Memorial Day in 1971.

The distinction of honoring those who died in service is a notable one.

There are national holidays to honor those who have served and made it home, such as Armed Forces Day to honor those who are currently serving and Veterans Day to recognize all those who have served.

Quite frankly, recognizing and thanking those who are currently serving should be something we do every single day, but that’s a whole other column…

To date, more than 650,000 United States soldiers have perished directly in combat, with more than 1.3 million persons passing while in active duty.

Monday is a day to honor and remember those who willingly gave their lives for democracy and a free country. Rather than complaining about a hot dog being too charred or a burger being underdone, take some time today to thank the truly brave among us, past and present, and honor their memory by ensuring we never allow anyone or anything, foreign or domestic, to take away the rights that they fought and died to ensure were passed down for generations.