From a Cross to a Star

Annotation — P.O.W. / M.I.A. Songs

This various artist compilation, a picture disc 12" vinyl, released in Salem, Virginia, USA, contained 9 Vietnam War-related songs, all composed by Virginia L. Hambrick (JRM Records # JRM4-20-87). Recorded at the JRM Studio, in Salem, produced by Jack Mullins. Many of the songs seem to feature the vocals and music of Bobby and Virginia Lee (Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 81, Roanoke, Virginia). The back of the LP also had a picture of a soldier called Mary Stout (National Officer of Vietnam Veterans of America, Washington D.C.) - but it's not clear what role she played on the record. The sleeve also contained a dedication from Virginia Lee:"this collection of songs is dedicated to the men and women who served in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, and to their families, many who whom continue to struggle with the aftereffects of an unpopular guerilla war. To my husband, Bobby Lee, an in-country Vietnam veteran...is my inspiration. A special thanks to the veterans who donated their time and efforts (including back-up vocals) towards making this project possible, and to the veterans, of Vet Center 226, and to the Vietnam Veterans of America" This is followed by a statement from Bobby Lee, about the song "Angel in the Green":"Too little has been said about the women who served in the Armed Force of the United States of America...much too little. Perhaps it is our fault...the fault of men, especially veteran men. We hide our good feeling...such as pride, honor, and gratitude. Angel in the Green is...about the women I served with, women who elected to leave the security of a traditional world to serve their country; to risk their futures and their lives...these women are veteran in every respect, I salute them with pride." The song "From a Cross to a Star" dealt with the memorial wall in D.C. and the missing in action (M.I.A. issue). A country track, it took a religious perspective, with the narrator recalling a man and woman who visit the "cold slab of stone" everyday. Their son is apparently still classified as M.I.A., with a cross by their name. The couple prayed that the cross would turn to a star. The song does not mention P.O.W.s.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: "There's a wall in the city where the big White House stands / The wall stands so blase and low, and the names of 10,000s / Who gave up their lives are carved in the black of the stone / There's an old man and woman who visit each day / And they gave on the name of their son, with tears in their eye, and hope on their lips / They pray for the safety of one, from a cross to a star, please Jesus we pray, help us change the mark on the wall / If missing in action and he can't come home, let it be from a cross to a star / On the wall by each name there is a cross or there's a star, which tells if that man's lost or if he's been found / The cross means he's still missing, the star, well he's gone home / A soldier, that's in every man, as I hold to the hand of my own little boy whose never touched his daddy / Just his name, by the cold slab of stone, with a cross mark by him / I say the word I heard the old couple say, from a cross to a star / Please Jesus, we pray, help us change the mark on the wall..."

Notes

Side B track 4 (3:39). JRM Records JRM4-20-87, picture disc LP in die-cut sleeve ("Special Collector's Edition"). Vocals: Virginia Lee, Bobby Lee, Bill Craft, Leon Pugh, Rhonda Lee. All songs written by Virginia L. Hambrick (BMI) © 1986; published by Double Jack Co. (BMI), Salem, Virginia; recorded at JRM Studio, Salem. Produced by Jack Mullins; engineer and special arrangements Rick Mullins; harmony vocals Virginia, Bobby & Rhonda Lee, Bill Craft, Jackie Jean and members of Vet Center 226; guitars Bobby Lee, Bobby Smith; keyboards Aubrey Hilton & David Ferguson; steel guitar Mike Calloway, Joey McCray, Mike Sweeney; drums Rick Mullins; bass Chuck Crush; harmonica Bobby Smith; "marching and combat sounds are authentic". Back cover: Mary Stout (National Officer of Vietnam Veterans of America) and Bobby & Virginia Lee (Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 81, Roanoke, Virginia); Bobby Lee…

About the artist

Bobby Lee, who served with the 19th Combat Engineers in Vietnam in 1966–67, and his wife Virginia Lee (songwriter Virginia L. Hambrick) were members of Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 81, Roanoke, Virginia. [Record sleeve]

Themes

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall · M.I.A. · Religion · Vet

In collections

P.O.W. / M.I.A. Songs · US Military & Veteran Songs · Veterans Memorial Wall Songs