Story Behind the Song | A Soldier’s Child

“A Soldiers Child” is a patriotic, soulful country song. The song was written and performed for the annual banquet honoring those “A Soldiers Child Birthday Foundation” serves. Children of fallen warriors and heroes. This is the story behind the song | A Soldier’s Child

Story Behind the Song

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In May of 2012, when the organization “A Soldier’s Child Birthday Foundation” asked me to sing at their Annual Banquet I had a very hard time choosing a song that would honor and celebrate the children of fallen hero’s.

There are those times as a musician where you are called to sing at an event and you are dumbfound as to what to sing. Consequently, this happened to me when I was asked to sing at the Annual Banquet for A Soldiers Child Birthday Foundation. Given this task, I had a difficult time coming up with a song for the occasion. Think about it, what do you sing to the parents and children of fallen warriors? The inspiration for “A Soldiers Child” came when Daryl Mackin, Founder & Executive Director of A Soldiers Child Foundation shared why he started this very special non-profit.

Birthday Party Planning

Like most of us, life can get busy. Hence, it was while Daryl was preparing for his son’s 6-year-old, surprise birthday party he had a reality check. At this point he was balancing all of the “chores” that had to be done to pull off the birthday celebration. Daryl shared with me he was sitting at his work computer, typing out his son’s invitations in frustration.

At this point, Daryl’s eyes landed on a picture hanging on his wall. The picture of a Marine in uniform handing a flag to a young boy. Meanwhile, the boy in the picture is named Christian. Furthermore, he is the son of Daryl’s neighbors. Christian’s father and Daryl’s friend, U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Marcus Andrew was killed in Iraq. Daryl shared “…I looked up at my wall and was immediately convicted in my spirit for my negative attitude.”

An Award Winning Photo from a Terrible Loss

Ultimately this photo, by Aaron Thompson won photo of the year. Looking at this photo that day Daryl shared his heart turned to his neighbor’s son Christian Golczynski.

Christian who “…will never be able to have a party planned by his dad,” says Daryl. Considering this Daryl who is also a Veteran was immediately convicted to do something for the children of our fallen warriors.

We Will Not Forget You

Daryl has these moving words posted on the Foundation’s website:

“U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Marcus Andrew “Marc” Golczynski (Christian’s father) wrote this in a letter to his mother shortly before he died in combat: “We are warriors; we fight and sometimes die so that our families don’t have to; Stand beside us.”

“As citizens of the United States of America, we are forever indebted to the men and women who so unselfishly protect our freedoms. It is our objective to communicate through ASC to the children left behind that the memory of their parent will not fade away. We want them to know that there are many Americans that are forever grateful for their parent’s sacrifice.” ~ Daryl Mackin

A Soldier’s Child – the Song is Born

It was after I learned this incredible story I realized there is not a song out there that will capture this story and honor these precious loved ones left behind. Furthermore, as a Veteran married to a Veteran this story moved me to my core. On this occasion, this audience deserves something more than another song everybody sings at banquets. For this reason, my husband James and I wrote this song to let the children of all fallen warriors know “we will remember….we will honor…we will make memories that are new, ’cause you are a soldier’s child and we will not forget you.“

About A Solder’s Child Birthday Foundation

Founder Daryl Mackin a fellow veteran is doing an amazing thing with this organization. If you died wouldn’t you want someone to honor and remember your child/children on their birthday? The photo featured is of Christian Golczynski. I have seen this photo many times prior to meeting Daryl. I never dreamed I would know the back story and write a song honoring the children of soldiers. Consequently “A Soldiers Child Birthday Foundation” is one of my favorite charities.

For more information visit www.asoldierschild.org.

Lyrics

Verse 1

My little mans got a birthday on the way
The chore of typing invitations is taking over today
I pause for a moment, look at the photo on the wall
It’s from my neighbor’s funeral, a marine who gave it all

Verse 2

It shows a man in uniform kneeling – speaking to a boy
Telling him how proud and bravely his father fought in war
Handing him his country’s flag to honor his sacrifice
That young boy fight’s the tears because his daddy paid the price
My heart sank deep for my poor attitude
I’m planning a party for my son but my neighbor won’t get to…..

Chorus

May God bless America and God Bless the USA
We must support our warriors and not let them fade away
They fight sometimes and pay the price as families carry on
We can’t forget the bond of love from a parent that is gone
Here’s to the little hands and feet left behind
We will remember
We will honor
And we will make memories that are new
‘Cause you’re a soldier’s child
We will not forget you

Bridge

We are indebted to the men and women who gave unselfishly
They paid the ultimate price so our children can be free – Yeah!

Chorus

May God bless America and God Bless the USA
We must support our warriors and not let them fade away
They fight sometimes and pay the price as families carry on
We can’t forget the bond of love from a parent that is gone
Here’s to the little hands and feet left behind
We will remember
We will honor
And we will make memories that are new
‘Cause you’re a soldier’s child
We will not forget you, no!

End Tag

‘Cause you’re a soldier’s child
We will not forget you no!
We will not forget you, oo, oo, oo, ooh
Cause you’re a soldier’s child
We will not forget you

A Soldiers Child © 2012 | Released on “Bigger Than Me,” 2021 | Judith Baker (ASCAP) | Publisher LeBaker Music (ASCAP) | Music, Lyrics, Production and Sound Recording by Judith Baker | All Rights Reserved