Posted on 03/20/2007 4:33:18 PM PDT by Fiji Hill
LONDON (Reuters) - Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher joined a chorus of "Happy Birthday" for wartime singer Vera Lynn, who turned 90 on Tuesday.
Lynn, nicknamed the "Forces' sweetheart" who entertained the troops during World War Two, was honoured at a small ceremony held at the Imperial War Museum in London where she joined guests in watching a short film about her life.
Katherine Jenkins, a young Welsh singer who has taken over the mantle of unofficial darling of British troops serving abroad, performed two of Lynn's most famous songs -- "We'll Meet Again" and "The White Cliffs of Dover".
Jenkins flew to the southern Iraqi port of Basra to perform for soldiers at Christmas in 2005.
Through her songs, Lynn became a symbol of hope for British and Allied soldiers fighting Nazi Germany and the Axis powers, particularly with her rendition of "The White Cliffs of Dover", as the coastal cliffs facing occupied France lay in the shadow of German bombers and the threat of invasion.
The tall and blonde Lynn was eventually given the title of Dame of the British Empire in 1975, amid disapproval that it had taken 30 years after the end of the war for the symbol of British fortitude to be honoured.
A WW2 song of hope - knowing many did not meet again.
The title you created "Thatcher in Birthday Chorus as Vera Lynn Turns 0-" was not the title at the source and had to be changed. Also the duplicate thread you posted had to be removed.
Please do not alter titles.
I didn't know that Vera Lynn was still living. Good for her.
Thank you for this most worthy post.
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Just like "I'll be home for Christmas" (1943). There's another one that chokes me up from that time...can't get the title though. It'll come to me and I'll report back. James Taylor (of all people) recorded a heart-wrenching version of it....
Good looking doll . God bless her !
Lili Marlene is unique in that it is the ONLY song that has ever been popular with troops on OPPOSITE sides of the same war.
Vera Lynn's US equivalent would probably be Margaret Whiting ("Moonlight in Vermont") or possibly Jo Stafford..
Lili Marlene is unique in that it is the ONLY song that has ever been popular with troops on OPPOSITE sides of the same war.
Vera Lynn's US equivalent would probably be Margaret Whiting ("Moonlight in Vermont") or possibly Jo Stafford..She was known as "GI Joe" for her many USO tours in the ETO
At one point in her life, she was married to a New Jersey fellow, Fred Castellano. I've seen their divorce decree, so I know that it's true. Does anyone know any more about this marriage?
Got it...."Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"...gets me every time.
-PJ
FYI..check out Kate's website..there are two music videos available to view...arias..she is gorgrous..
Kate who ?
weren't you talking about Katherine Jenkins?
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