Celia Cruz Tributo A Ismael Rivera CD

) In recent correspondence with Bob Calvert, host of talkingwithheroes , she explained how she came to write and produce the song, "We Thank You." "One night, in October 2005, I woke up in the middle of the night with a distinct image of a young man with newly cut hair, packing a duffle bag... The words 'We know that you enlisted when you didn't have to go' went through my mind, along with a haunting tune. Who was this man? Why did he enlist? Who was singing? I didn't exactly know...but I remembered times I'd seen soldiers...in their jeeps on an interstate, or on the subway...And then more song words and melodies came to me. I typed up all the words, tears in my eyes, then wrote down the notes and chords. And so the song was born. Getting a recording star to sing it could take months or even years, I realized.

The fastest way to get it to the troops was to record it myself. I've recruited the best musicians and most heartfelt volunteers to play and sing the song along with me. I've listening to mixes with a talented recording engineer. I've played the song to many people. In all of this, I simply want to honor and thank our soldiers. It's 5 minutes and 19 seconds long. Some have called it 'epic.

' "! It's notable that Alexandra has no ties to the military through friends or family. (She did call to ask about joining the Army reserves when she was in her early 30s two decades ago, and found out she was too old to join!) She is grateful to all who serve. Since Alexandra wrote her letter to Bob, she has been interviewed on his show (March 12, 2006). Also, officials at the Department of Defense have posted it on AmericaSupportsYou . Appreciation for the song spans a wide political spectrum. It's not just hawks like Alexandra who love our soldiers. Some doves do as well. In fact, there has been some interest in this song within the Quaker community. Alexandra will donate all profits on this song to veterans causes. See the links on her website for the causes she recommends. If you are serving or have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, send Alexandra your address and she will mail you a copy for free. (She knows the Post Office routine for mailing to APOs, as she is a Soldiers Angel. Yes, she has come a long way of service and awareness since she wrote the song.