April is designated as the month when the children of our warriors are acknowledged and appreciated for their sacrifices as their father or mother spend months and years away from the home fighting for our Country.
Through out this month my posts will focus on resources, stories, and articles about military children. I wanted to start this week off with a song written by a young teenage girl with the help of her father.
Here’s Alyssa Gaddis’ (7th grader) account of writing the lyrics to the song “The Price of Peace” with her father CW5 Jim Gaddis.
One day while watching my Dad leaving for work in his uniform, I realized that most people don’t understand what the families go through when their loved ones go off to war. I wrote this song from my heart on a daughters perspective of what it is like when her Dad goes off to war. The Price of Peace is a great song that has a message of love and support for any loved one in the military.
I sat down one night and wrote it with my dad’s help. I didn’t realize my dad knew so much about it until he started telling me about the deployment ceremonies he has attended. He told me how the soldiers families and the children clutched their dad’s neck and cried unashamed. This really hit home for me. I know it has to be hard for any family to watch a loved one or a friend go off to war. It is hard to understand how they feel everyday as they wake up praying that their loved one is ok. When people listen to this song I hope it moves them to a better understanding of what a military family has to cope with. The song also tells how a family sticks together and realizes God has a reason and purpose for all things.
Alyssa Gaddis
7th Grade
Here are the lyrics and a link to the song online. It’s very moving, and I openly admit that it easily brought me to tears — just a warning for those of you who may have to keep your composure. It’s well done and considering the age of the child who wrote it makes it very special.
Price of Peace
Gaddis/Steen 08
Standing at the gate knowing I couldn’t wave enough
No matter what it’s gonna be tough
For a girl to say goodbye to her daddy’s smile is rough
Can’t cover it up
That’s how much you love,
Having him there for dances, dinners, for you
When your off fighting dad we’re fighting to see you soon
Chorus
The price of peace is paid by the families on their knees praying tonight
By the soldiers feet on some foreign street just trying to save a life
By a daughters tears as she sees her hero do what he thinks is right
The loss may run deep but if it’s love we leave
Well that’s the price of peace
Its hard that he’s gone the moments go on nonstop
Think about him a lot but for him its more than just a job
So the comfort for me in his letters each week is I know he knows
I cant wait til hes home so I can hug him
Have him hold me and not let me loose
When he’s told you don’t be sad
Hope is all you can do
Chorus
Bridge
The countdown goes from months to weeks to days
Time stands still the longer you have to wait
Please God show me how to be patient
I cant wait til then turns to now
Chorus
Now I’m standin’ at the gate knowing I can’t wave enough…
LINK TO SONG
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