Song saluting military hits airwaves tomorrow
It started as a dream three years ago for Vernon-based entrepreneur Barry Stecyk, who wanted to honour Canada’s soldiers through song.
Over the last three months, that dream took shape at the hands of Province deputy editor Fabian Dawson, EMI Music Canada, Country Music TV and an array of Canadian artists, songwriters, producers and engineers.
Beginning Monday, the dream, which has been turned into the much anticipated song — Standing Strong and True (for Tomorrow) — Canada’s biggest musical tribute to its military — will hit the radio airwaves from coast to coast.
The single will be available for purchase digitally via iTunes on Oct. 26 and the music video, produced by Fahrenheit Films, will be available for purchase digitally on Nov. 2 via all Postmedia newspaper websites across the country.
Proceeds will go to two special funds: the Military Families Fund and Boomer’s Legacy. The Military Families Fund directly assists military families by providing immediate support in their time of need.
Boomer’s Legacy is a charitable foundation to raise money for Afghans living in the valleys and villages where Canadian troops operate.
The Postmedia newspaper websites will carry a digital memorial wall listing all the casualties from Canada’s current conflict in Afghanistan and a selection of donated, free song downloads honouring our fallen troops available in November.
The entire project is titled We Salute Our Heroes and is backed by the Department of National Defence.
“Thanks to the work of Barry Stecyk and Fabian Dawson and the donation that will be made to the Military Families Fund, Can-ada’s soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen and their families will be better able to receive additional support above and beyond our regular support programs, if a special situation or need arises,” said Gen. Walt Natynczyk, chief of the Canadian forces.
“These gentlemen and the project they are heading will do a lot of good, both here in Canada for our military families through the Military Families Fund, and also wherever our troops are deployed and are working to help others, through the ongoing funding efforts of Boomer’s Legacy.”
Many of country music’s finest gave of their time and voices during Canadian Country Music Awards weekend in September in Edmonton to record the charity single.
The song, which opens with the distinctive bagpipes of the Naden Band of Maritime Forces Pacific, was written by Ron Irving, Lynda McKillip and Tom McKillip.
Standing Strong and True (for Tomorrow) was produced and engineered by Kevin Churko (Shania Twain, CĂline Dion) and Tom McKillip (Lisa Brokop, Aaron Pritchett) and features a long list of Canadian country artists, including Aaron Pritchett, AL Woodworth, Beverley Mahood, Michelle Wright, Terri Clark, One More Girl and many others.
“Our Canadian troops have always been there to aid those in need,” said country-music star Terri Clark, adding, “I am so proud to get to be a part of something to honour all the Canadian troops and their families.”
Barry Stecyk, president of the Vernon-based HevyD’s Kettle Korn said: “My intent with this project was to honour our Canadian soldiers, both the living and the fallen, through music. The lyrics of this song and the spirit of the artists involved have brought this to life in an even bigger way than I had imagined.”
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