“More Than A Name On A Wall” Tells Story Of Mother’s Heartbreaking Loss Of Her Hero Son
on May 24, 2024
In 1989, The Statler Brothers released one of the most poignant patriotic tunes to ever hit the country music airwaves: “More Than A Name On A Wall.”
Penned by Jimmy Fortune, “More Than A Name On A Wall” tells the story of a soldier killed in the war. Told from the point of view of an observer who witnesses the grieving mother visiting her son’s memorial, the tune shares the mother’s prayer.
“Lord my boy was special,
And he meant so much to me
And Oh I’d love to see him
Just one more time you see
All I have are the memories
And the moments to recall
So Lord could you tell him,
He’s more than a name on a wall..”
In 2008, bluegrass duo Dailey & Vincent included the song on their debut album, taking the single to the top of the bluegrass charts. Dailey & Vincent told Newsmax TV last year that they have a deep connection to veterans, but the response to their live performances of “More Than A Name On A Wall” is something they never expected.
“One of the things that our shows really touch me and makes me go home and tell my wife and cry is the veterans come up to our shows with their families and say ‘thank you for not forgetting about us,'” Vincent said. “It’s over and over and over and they’re just sitting there sobbing saying ‘thank you for remembering us’. When you see that and see the compassion in their eyes, it really works on you.”
The duo shared a moving moment during a song performance in Appomattox, Virginia, when a WWII veteran sitting beside his walker struggled to rise from his seat to salute.
“When he did that we couldn’t even hardly get through the song,” Dailey said. “It was one of the most touching moments of our career and Darrin hopped off stage and embraced the gentleman,” he said. “That’s real. Nothing can explain how you feel when you’re singing that and seeing an older gentlemen like that from World War II. He was old and it took everything he could muster to get out of his seat.”
“He was just crying and I just had to hug him,” Vincent said. “I felt like I needed to and it was the right thing to do. I jumped off stage and hugged him.”
Dailey & Vincent are often joined by the song’s writer and original performer, Jimmy Fortune, for “More Than A Name On A Wall.”
The result is always moving. Watch the video below and join us in remembering all of those who have given their lives for our country.
