By: straight8
Bill Anderson’s heart-wrenching new music video, “Old Army Hat” premiered across CMT Pure, CMT.com and the CMT Artists app on Veteran’s Day. Anderson, whose half-century of songwriting hits range from “City Lights” to “Whiskey Lullaby” and “Give It Away,” wrote and recorded “Old Army Hat” after hearing about a visit 91-year-old Army veteran Ed Haley made to the World War II memorial in Washington, D. C. As was his usual, Haley wore his Army hat for the occasion—and that’s where the drama the song and video chronicle starts. The last scene will have you reaching for the Kleenex.
In addition to the video premiere on CMT, Anderson made an appearance on Big D & Bubba’s syndicated radio show on Nov. 11 to talk about “OldArmy Hat.” This week’s issue of Country Weekly included Anderson in their “Behind The Song” feature. He performed the song on Veteran’s Day at the Grand Ole Opry, as well as an interview on Golf Talk America with Laura Bryna. Anderson also performed “Old Army Hat” for the students at Mt. Juliet Christian Academy for their Veteran’s Day Celebration.
“That ‘greatest generation’ of soldiers is passing away quickly now,” Anderson observes. “We need to keep their memory alive—not for nostalgia’s sake—but as a reminder of what America can achieve at its best. And, believe me, Ed Haley was one of the best. His love of country and sense of duty have never faltered.”