Wednesday, May 8, 2013

"Be Like Abigail" - Winner of DAR 2013 American Heritage National Music Composition Contest!

As a Daughter of the American Revolution, Fort Nashborough Chapter, established along the trails of Tennessee, I am pleased to announce my song " Be Like Abigail (Ode To Abigail Smith Adams) " won the National Society DAR American Heritage National Music Composition Award! I received a lovely letter of congratulations from our DAR National Music Chairman, Shirley Brown, April 24th.

 


I must say, I had a very good feeling about this particular song. Although music is subjective, I sensed it would win. I was right! I thank God for the gifts and talents He gives me.

Through my study of Abigail Adams, patriot, and wife of  John Adams our first vice-president and second president of The United States, as well as mother of John Quincy Adams, our sixth president, I have become more acutely aware of the blood, sweat and tears shed from members of the original thirteen Colonies to wrest from the clutches of the British our beautiful land we call America. Freedom was not handed to these men and women who sacrifificed, life and limb, family, friends and finances to establish this land of the free and the home of the brave.

It's an honor and privilege to travel to Washington, D.C. the week of June 24, during the 122nd Continental Congress - which Abigail's husband, John, along with 55 other partriots initiated in Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia September 5, 1774,  to be presented with an award for my song, "Be Like Abigail." All categories in the Arts will be on display at Constitution Hall in the DAR Museum.

I am forever grateful to Abigail Adams and a host of other women and wives, who assisted our Founding Fathers while they traveled back and forth overseas for "The Cause," literally "holding down the fort" (tending to hearth and home, including hosting dinner parties, thereby, insisting the men come together for civilized conversation) thus "helping keep our fragile new nation from falling into fatal partisan discord. "These women made the men behave." (quote from Founding Mothers, by Cokie Roberts (c) 2004.)

I am deeply and forever grateful to my Revolutionary War patriot, Samuel Sunderlin, who was a private, first class in the Continental Army, maybe under George Washington. I plan further research in the DAR Library in Washington, D.C.