Hugh's News & Commentary

I don't believe I have been more proud of our son, Greg Morgan, than yesterday, Sunday, May 27, 2012, when our family, Melvine, Greg, Stephanie and I, worshiped at the Draper Pentecostal Holiness Church in Eden, NC.

Sarah Kesner London, music director and pianist of the church (Melvine's home church), called Saturday evening at our hotel (Hampton Inn) and wanted a special musical number from our family, namely, Melvine, Greg and Stephanie. As it turned out, Greg was the only one of the three who had the voice to sing because of allergies. He volunteered to do the honors. He met with Sarah prior to the worship service to go over the song or songs he wanted to sing. Sarah is one of the most talented pianists I have ever heard. Nothing is too difficult in music for her to do. She is masterful in accompaniment of singers as well as instrumentalists like myself when I play my trombone.

Greg sang two appropriate patriotic songs for this Memorial Day Service: "God Bless America" and "I am Proud to be an American." He introduced "God Bless America" by telling that Ervin Berlin wrote it. He was a Russian Jewish immigrant who loved America. He did not read music, but wrote scores of songs. He had placed "God Bless America" in a folder because he didn't think too much of it when he wrote it. But when Kate Smith needed a Patriotic Song he pulled it out and the rest is history. No one could sing "God Bless America" like Kate Smith. What a voice and how she blessed us all who heard her sing in years gone by!

Greg sang the first stanza which most of us have never heard or sung. He did all this from his memory of the history of the song and the lyrics as well. Greg is a graduate of Oral Roberts University in music education. He sang with the Oral Roberts Concert Choir and on the Oral Roberts television show. One summer he was a singer with the Celebrant Singers out of Visalia, California, as they toured the United States in concerts in chuches and civic centers. He has been teaching piano and voice lessons in homes of people in Atlanta, and doing substitute teaching in Gwinnett County in Atlanta. He is back at our church in Athens at Christian Life Worship Center, and singing with the worship team and playing the Hammond organ.

Let me share those words (lyrics) with you now:

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free.
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer:

God bless America, land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans white with foam,
God bless America,
My home sweet home.

-- Irving Berlin

And now, for the lyrics to "I am Proud to Be An American" by Lee Greenwood

If tomorrow all the things were gone I'd worked for all my life,
And I had to start again with just my children and my wife,
I'd thank my lucky stars to be living here today,
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom
And they can't take that away.

I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land God Bless the U.S.A.

From the lakes of Minnesota to the hills of Tennessee,
Across the plains of Texas from sea to shining sea.
From Detroit down to Houston and New York to L.A.,
There's pride in every American heart
And it's time we stand and say:

I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land God Bless the U.S.A.

Greg sang these songs from memory, with authority, anointing, and a clear resonate voice. I was so very proud of him. I knew he had it in him, but today he demonstrated what he has to offer in singing. He has a wealth of knowledge about the songs we sing, an instant recall, and voice to sing them well.

At the close of the worship service the pastor, the Rev. Mr. Jonathan Todd, asked Greg to pray the prayer of benediction without advance notification. Greg masterfully crafted a prayer while thinking on his feet as well as out of his heart as a born again believer. He was as good at doing it as a seasoned pastor.