I encountered Ms. Monica Lewis while researching “The Memorial Cross”—a “forgotten” Korean War monument built in my hometown of Kokura during the conflict.
She had been posting on a Korean War remembrance page on Facebook; her visits to the young soldiers alongside Danny Kaye during the war were a pivotal experience that profoundly reshaped the rest of her life.
I'll Be Seeing You
NEVER FORGOTTEN:
My Facebook friend and fellow singer / humanitarian Shoko “Seina” Shiraishi, who is devoted to preserving and performing the American pop and jazz hits of my own mid-century era, sent me these lovely photos taken on Christmas Day 2012. Seina visited the Korean War Memorial Cross in her hometown of Kokura, Japan, and — as a sweet gesture of remembrance and gratitude to our soldiers and their sacrifices, and to my own 1951 troop-entertainment tour of the frontlines in Korea with Danny Kaye — played two of my songs on-site via her iPhone. The tunes were “The Song is You” and “I’ll Be Seeing You,” which both appeared on my 1957 album SING IT TO THE MARINES. To learn more about Seina, her music and her good work, please visit her on Facebook
Love to you, Seina! oxo, Monica
Korean War Poem
We didn’t do much talking,
We didn’t raise a fuss.
But Korea really happened
So please – remember us.
We all just did our duty
But we didn’t win or lose.
A victory was denied us
But we didn’t get to choose.
We all roasted in the summer
In winter, we damn near froze.
Walking back from near the Yalu
With our blackened frozen toes.
Like the surf the Chinese kept coming
With their bugles in the night.
We fired into their masses
Praying for the morning light.
All of us just had to be there
And so many of us died.
But now we’re all but half forgotten
No one remembers how we tried.
We grow fewer with the years now
And we still don’t raise a fuss.
But Korea really happened
So please – remember us.
This touching poem, written by LCDR Roberto J. Prinselaar, USCG (Ret), is etched in stone at a Korean War Veteran’s Memorial in the Liberty State Park NJ Turnpike, Exit 14-B Jersey City, NJ
There are several sculptures and other works of art that are well worth a visit.
BRIDGING COUNTRIES AND HISTORY WITH MUSIC:
I had a lovely lunch recently with my Facebook friend and fellow vocalist / humanitarian Shoko “Seina” Shiraishi, who is devoted to preserving and performing the American pop and jazz hits of my own mid-century era. Seina’s passions were partly inspired by her visits as a young girl to the Korean War Memorial Cross, which is dedicated to all the soldiers who made sacrifices during the conflict, in her hometown of Kokura, Japan, and they blossomed when she began singing professionally in New York as a young woman. She is delighted to have discovered me on Facebook and learned of my November 1951 entertainment tour of the Korean War frontlines with Danny Kaye. To find out more about Seina, her music and her good work. So nice to meet you, Seina… good luck with your project! oxo, Monica (Photo by Dean Lamanna)
OKAY, SO I CAN STILL BE A BIT OF A HAM AT AGE 90!
These two beautifully packaged CDs, titled THANKS FOR THE MEMORY and I HAVE A DREAM, were gifts from one my new Facebook friends — the lovely Japanese singer and humanitarian Shoko “Seina” Shiraishi. Seina’s voice is just lovely, particularly in the way it captures the tone of mid-century American pop and jazz standards like “A Tree in the Meadow” and “I’ll Be Seeing You” that I myself sang. I am so glad Seina reached out to me, and I encourage you to learn more about her at her Facebook page above, her website and at my earlier post about her visit to the Korean War Memorial Cross in her hometown of Kokura, Japan. Thank you for these musical presents, Seina, and for the work you are doing! All Best Wishes in 2013… Love, Monica (Photo by Dean Lamanna)