George m. Cohan

Being the age I am. I have the good fortune to still have the ability to look over 80 years. I am glad I am 80 years old. I've had more good experiences than bad ones in my life for which I am grateful. It has given me the opportunity to hear, know, or see many truly great musicians, painters, actors, actresses, a few statesmen, a few Presidents, friends and people in general, and, of course, have a beautiful wife more than half of my life.

Today I was thinking about the actor, James Cagney. If you have less than 50 years, you probably don't know him. He played mostly gangster parts in films, starting in 1931. However, in one film, Yankee Doodle Dandy, he played the part of George M. Cohan. I was not to familiar with Cohans life or the music he he wrote. He was a songwriter, playwright, lyricist, singer, dancer, and entertainer. 

No one in theatrical history ever did as many different things as well as George M. Cohan. In the early 20th century, he dominated American theater to a degree that has never been matched by anyone else. Cohan is the father of the modern Broadway musical.

On May 1, 1940, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt presented him with the Congressional Medal of Honor for his contributions to World War I morale, in particular with the songs "You're a Grand Old Flag" and "Over There".^[28] Cohan was the first person in any artistic field selected for this honor, which previously had been only given to military and political leaders, philanthropists, scientists, inventors, and explorers.

I recorded several of his movie to watch tonight and chose first, "Yankee Doodle Dandy". I chose it because I remembered he danced in it and Joan very much likes movies with dancing.

Unknown to me, it was the life story of George M. Cohan. I could see why he was awarded the Medal of Honor. All his life he was very patriotic. The movie was made in 1942. In this day and age, I think every American should see it.