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Just before Halloween 2004, Scott Thomas Laughridge chatted with a soldier at the Atlanta airport who was on his way home to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Adam had a two-week pass before he would return to Fallujah, Iraq for a second year-long stint. Scott and Adam talked for an hour about Adam's fiancé; the Pittsburgh Steelers – Adam is a big fan; and about what it is like to serve in Iraq. Scott said he'd seen several friends and fellow soldiers lose their lives, and he was a little afraid but he believed in what he was doing and would be back at it in two weeks.
"He really became a friend and I wanted to do something for him," Scott said. So, with his soft Southern drawl and gentlemanly manner, Scott scored tickets to the sold-out Patriots/Steelers' game through a broker who shared Scott's aim and contributed the tickets at cost. "It wound up bein' that Pittsburgh actually stopped New England's 21 game win streak at that game."
Over the next few years, whenever Scott saw something like television's Extreme Makeover helping a wounded vet's family, he thought of Adam. He also thought of his grandfather who was a SeaBee in World War II. "He had all these stories. He wasn't on the main lines. He had been involved in little fighting, but he surveyed the landing strips on Iwo Jima after we invaded."
Scott wants us to realize not all heroes were on the front lines, yet their sacrifice counts. Scott's grandfather was one of 110,000 American marines and sailors involved in the taking of Iwo Jima.
For the next few years, Scott ached to do more to honor those who serve in the military and in February 2007 inspiration exploded within him. As a piano player and singer with the Christian group Sons of Mercy, who contract with Insync Music, it was natural for Scott's muse to come forth with a song, simply, profoundly called "Thank You."
"The song was written for my grandfather. It was written for all the soldiers [men and women of the navy, coast guard, marines, army and air force], past, present and future."
"It was a God thing. I don't know if you believe in that sort of thing. It was definitely given to me by God and has allowed me to basically share even more of what I feel for these guys. We do need to thank them. Regardless of the conflict."
Scott enlisted the help of GRAMMY winner Brad Avery for the music composition. Brad, Scott's church and golf buddy of more than 12 years, plays with the Christian rock band Third Day. The two teamed up to create the stirring anthem which was selected as the new theme song for AMillionThanks.org. You may have heard "Thank You" on General Motors commercials during National Military Appreciation Month.
Brad yearns to take Third Day on USO tours. "Our hope and desire is that we'll get a chance to go over there [to Iraq] and play for our troops... It's been in our hearts for a long time." Brad told Stars and Stripes.
The fellow's have a clear intent for the song: "Number one, we want people to realize, 'Hey! You know these guys are over there every day. We're going through our daily lives over here. Ya know, good or bad, we're still at home. Whether it's a sailor, or soldier, they're servin' our country. Whether they're here or at Fort Bragg or some other base in America or elsewhere, or in-line, it's the same message we want to get across."
Scott went on to say, "Then there's the random acts of kindness. My daughter and I were on a daddy-daughter date at the Steak and Shake the other day, and she said, 'Daddy, look at that soldier over there.' 'Yeah,' I said. 'Let's go talk to him,' she said. So, as we were leavin' the restaurant, we went up to him and said, 'We just want to thank you.' And, you could see that he was grateful."
In other interviews, Scott hadn't told reporters about the Patriots/Steelers tickets he gave Adam because he didn't want to boast about his gesture, but he now recognizes that sharing the story could encourage others to perform like acts. He was quick to let me know that proceeds from the sale of the single, "Thank You" go to the Wounded Soldiers Wish Foundation, a new program of AMillionThanks.org.
An Orange, California high school student, Shauna Fleming, founded AMillionThanks.org in 2004 to collect and distribute a million letters, cards and messages of thanks to U.S. military personnel. Since then, the organization has delivered 3 million messages. The Wounded Soldiers Wish Foundation, created in 2007 by Shauna and her father, will aid veterans and their families with medical and other needs. You can hear Scott sing "Thank You" on the site AMillionThanks.org.
To showcase the song in full perspective, Scott has also set the music to a slide show of photographs, some obtained from US Army archives. Service men and women are depicted in a broad range of settings. Some clutch their loved ones as they say good-bye. Others show the deployed in their day to day lives, sometimes in full gear and perilous situations; with wounded; walking away from town where oddly brilliant-colored smoke still billows; a platoon on their knees praying; at ease reading letters from home; with a gaggle of the town's children; and one with a little red-haired girl in a red-print dress holding a teddy bear, apparently taken in Iraq. The pictures display calm, conviction, devastation, and relief and joy upon returning home. The heroes' stance, expressions and eyes tell a thousand stories. You can see the video on Myspace.com/wanttothankyou and on YouTube under Avery Thomas.
Recognizing the horrors and inherent wrong of war and that peace is the goal, we can honor, respect and be grateful for those who's intent and service preserve our liberties and free victims of atrocities. Scott and Brad have gifted us with a song to pay homage to our service men and women and their families and to inspire the rest of us to extend gratitude in our own way.
Below are a few of the unedited comments Scott has received about the song:
This song means the WORLD to me. My big brother was just deployed July 1st for his 3rd tour in Iraq with the marines. We are devastated... but people like you give us hope and I want to thank you for that!
I can't express just how much "Thank You" has touched me as well as many others around me. My son has been deployed several times and will HOPEFULLY be back on American soil in mid-Sept. Your song not only ministers to us back in the states, but more importantly to the soldiers overseas. God Bless You for sharing your heart!
Hi Im a soldier over in Kuwait right now and they ran an article in Stars And Stripes about your song and Third Day and I just want to say thanks. This is an inspirational song for those of us over here. I have a wife and six kids who i miss very much. My family and God are my life but this song really helps me get through. I just got here a month ago and still have 11 more months left. Well anyway I just wanted to say thank you for the wonderful song and I´m sure my family will enjoy it as much as I do.
I want to say thanks for putting my words into a song. Being a military wife for many years now there is not to many songs out there that put my feelings of confusion, love, hurt, hope, and faith into a song. One that really explains how I feel and how so many others feel too. Thanks you so much and I love your voices. Let me know when your album comes out I will be buying that one. Love to all! May GOD BLESS! Marisa I am sure you hear this a lot but that song is just amazing.
I love your song! My husband is in Iraq right now, and I had him play the song and he said it was like it was written just for us.
What a beautiful song! I am a girlfriend of a us marine and that meant so much to me! THANK YOU for taking the time to write a song that is actually worth listening to these days!
This song is absolutely amazing!!!! I just love it.. My boyfriend is in Iraq, as well as his brother and two of my cousins and it's so great to hear songs like this... It really is. So I want to thank YALL for this song- Today has been a tough day and this really made my night so much better.
I am getting married in 3 weeks to my high school sweetheart, my best friend and my hero. A US Marine who at just 19 is going to Iraq in one month to defend every breath I take each day he is away. I am dedicating the song to him at our wedding and I cant wait to see his face when I do. Thank you!
You don't know how much I needed to hear this today! I have tears rolling.. my husband has been deployed for 6 months now and we have 8 more to go... Thanks a lot. I will post you guys on my bulletin and hope others are inspired by this song like I was. Hope you guys get this song out soon, I know it will touch many people who can relate.
thank you for sharing that song!! It made me cry because my husband was serving his second tour in Iraq when he was almost killed, this song makes us feel like their are people in the world who still care about the troops fighting for something they believe in, and that nobody has forgotten about them and their families, who proudly stand by them till their safe return home.
Diana deRegnier writes from the San Francisco Bay Area. Her articles appear in websites and print publications around the world. Contact Diana at spiritlinks@comcast.net.
"He really became a friend and I wanted to do something for him," Scott said. So, with his soft Southern drawl and gentlemanly manner, Scott scored tickets to the sold-out Patriots/Steelers' game through a broker who shared Scott's aim and contributed the tickets at cost. "It wound up bein' that Pittsburgh actually stopped New England's 21 game win streak at that game."
Over the next few years, whenever Scott saw something like television's Extreme Makeover helping a wounded vet's family, he thought of Adam. He also thought of his grandfather who was a SeaBee in World War II. "He had all these stories. He wasn't on the main lines. He had been involved in little fighting, but he surveyed the landing strips on Iwo Jima after we invaded."
Scott wants us to realize not all heroes were on the front lines, yet their sacrifice counts. Scott's grandfather was one of 110,000 American marines and sailors involved in the taking of Iwo Jima.
For the next few years, Scott ached to do more to honor those who serve in the military and in February 2007 inspiration exploded within him. As a piano player and singer with the Christian group Sons of Mercy, who contract with Insync Music, it was natural for Scott's muse to come forth with a song, simply, profoundly called "Thank You."
"The song was written for my grandfather. It was written for all the soldiers [men and women of the navy, coast guard, marines, army and air force], past, present and future."
"It was a God thing. I don't know if you believe in that sort of thing. It was definitely given to me by God and has allowed me to basically share even more of what I feel for these guys. We do need to thank them. Regardless of the conflict."
Scott enlisted the help of GRAMMY winner Brad Avery for the music composition. Brad, Scott's church and golf buddy of more than 12 years, plays with the Christian rock band Third Day. The two teamed up to create the stirring anthem which was selected as the new theme song for AMillionThanks.org. You may have heard "Thank You" on General Motors commercials during National Military Appreciation Month.
Brad yearns to take Third Day on USO tours. "Our hope and desire is that we'll get a chance to go over there [to Iraq] and play for our troops... It's been in our hearts for a long time." Brad told Stars and Stripes.
The fellow's have a clear intent for the song: "Number one, we want people to realize, 'Hey! You know these guys are over there every day. We're going through our daily lives over here. Ya know, good or bad, we're still at home. Whether it's a sailor, or soldier, they're servin' our country. Whether they're here or at Fort Bragg or some other base in America or elsewhere, or in-line, it's the same message we want to get across."
Scott went on to say, "Then there's the random acts of kindness. My daughter and I were on a daddy-daughter date at the Steak and Shake the other day, and she said, 'Daddy, look at that soldier over there.' 'Yeah,' I said. 'Let's go talk to him,' she said. So, as we were leavin' the restaurant, we went up to him and said, 'We just want to thank you.' And, you could see that he was grateful."
In other interviews, Scott hadn't told reporters about the Patriots/Steelers tickets he gave Adam because he didn't want to boast about his gesture, but he now recognizes that sharing the story could encourage others to perform like acts. He was quick to let me know that proceeds from the sale of the single, "Thank You" go to the Wounded Soldiers Wish Foundation, a new program of AMillionThanks.org.
An Orange, California high school student, Shauna Fleming, founded AMillionThanks.org in 2004 to collect and distribute a million letters, cards and messages of thanks to U.S. military personnel. Since then, the organization has delivered 3 million messages. The Wounded Soldiers Wish Foundation, created in 2007 by Shauna and her father, will aid veterans and their families with medical and other needs. You can hear Scott sing "Thank You" on the site AMillionThanks.org.
To showcase the song in full perspective, Scott has also set the music to a slide show of photographs, some obtained from US Army archives. Service men and women are depicted in a broad range of settings. Some clutch their loved ones as they say good-bye. Others show the deployed in their day to day lives, sometimes in full gear and perilous situations; with wounded; walking away from town where oddly brilliant-colored smoke still billows; a platoon on their knees praying; at ease reading letters from home; with a gaggle of the town's children; and one with a little red-haired girl in a red-print dress holding a teddy bear, apparently taken in Iraq. The pictures display calm, conviction, devastation, and relief and joy upon returning home. The heroes' stance, expressions and eyes tell a thousand stories. You can see the video on Myspace.com/wanttothankyou and on YouTube under Avery Thomas.
Recognizing the horrors and inherent wrong of war and that peace is the goal, we can honor, respect and be grateful for those who's intent and service preserve our liberties and free victims of atrocities. Scott and Brad have gifted us with a song to pay homage to our service men and women and their families and to inspire the rest of us to extend gratitude in our own way.
Below are a few of the unedited comments Scott has received about the song:
This song means the WORLD to me. My big brother was just deployed July 1st for his 3rd tour in Iraq with the marines. We are devastated... but people like you give us hope and I want to thank you for that!
I can't express just how much "Thank You" has touched me as well as many others around me. My son has been deployed several times and will HOPEFULLY be back on American soil in mid-Sept. Your song not only ministers to us back in the states, but more importantly to the soldiers overseas. God Bless You for sharing your heart!
Hi Im a soldier over in Kuwait right now and they ran an article in Stars And Stripes about your song and Third Day and I just want to say thanks. This is an inspirational song for those of us over here. I have a wife and six kids who i miss very much. My family and God are my life but this song really helps me get through. I just got here a month ago and still have 11 more months left. Well anyway I just wanted to say thank you for the wonderful song and I´m sure my family will enjoy it as much as I do.
I want to say thanks for putting my words into a song. Being a military wife for many years now there is not to many songs out there that put my feelings of confusion, love, hurt, hope, and faith into a song. One that really explains how I feel and how so many others feel too. Thanks you so much and I love your voices. Let me know when your album comes out I will be buying that one. Love to all! May GOD BLESS! Marisa I am sure you hear this a lot but that song is just amazing.
I love your song! My husband is in Iraq right now, and I had him play the song and he said it was like it was written just for us.
What a beautiful song! I am a girlfriend of a us marine and that meant so much to me! THANK YOU for taking the time to write a song that is actually worth listening to these days!
This song is absolutely amazing!!!! I just love it.. My boyfriend is in Iraq, as well as his brother and two of my cousins and it's so great to hear songs like this... It really is. So I want to thank YALL for this song- Today has been a tough day and this really made my night so much better.
I am getting married in 3 weeks to my high school sweetheart, my best friend and my hero. A US Marine who at just 19 is going to Iraq in one month to defend every breath I take each day he is away. I am dedicating the song to him at our wedding and I cant wait to see his face when I do. Thank you!
You don't know how much I needed to hear this today! I have tears rolling.. my husband has been deployed for 6 months now and we have 8 more to go... Thanks a lot. I will post you guys on my bulletin and hope others are inspired by this song like I was. Hope you guys get this song out soon, I know it will touch many people who can relate.
thank you for sharing that song!! It made me cry because my husband was serving his second tour in Iraq when he was almost killed, this song makes us feel like their are people in the world who still care about the troops fighting for something they believe in, and that nobody has forgotten about them and their families, who proudly stand by them till their safe return home.
Diana deRegnier writes from the San Francisco Bay Area. Her articles appear in websites and print publications around the world. Contact Diana at spiritlinks@comcast.net.
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