Susan Wiseman is the Tribute Lady

Susan Wiseman is the "Tribute Lady"
by Susan Wiseman

Since Susan Wiseman’s song "It is the Soldier" appeared on VT we have had a tremendous response from our readers.  Over 1,800 people have downloaded her moving and inspired music FREE of charge on VT.

We asked Susan to write a follow-up of her experiences since we featured her on VT last year.  Thank you, Susan, for your heart and your passion for our soldiers and veterans! VT editor, Morgan Barker

Since Veteran’s Today’s article in March 2005, SPC David Dale, Susan D. Wiseman,"It Is The Soldier" and "The Tribute Lady"  have become names & terms beloved by veterans, and, this mom’s life has been anything but ordinary.  

Just when I’d finished 33 years of raising children, and, looking forward to "retiring" & enjoying my hobbies of music & raising Japanese Koi fish, I was suddenly catapaulted into service, honoring this great Nation & its veterans…

My song, "It Is The Soldier" in honor of my youngest son, SPC David Dale, has now become the foundation of my online music ministry, "Christ-Centered Pieces" – Given Gifts, which now reaches veterans across this land.   

Susan D. Wiseman, recently honored with the title, "The Tribute Lady.".     And, most recently, the AWARD for www.itisthesoldier.com " It Is The Soldier " -Never Forget- TRIBUTES       2005-CD of the Year AWARD Presented by the Military Writer’s Society of America!

When I awoke at early one fall morning, back in 2004…just days before my youngest son, David would be sworn into the Army, little did I know the events that lie ahead for this simple housewife & mom and my songs from my heart, which have now turned into a full-time online music ministry titled, "Christ-Centered Pieces" – Given Gifts…where ALL downloads are FREE. www.thetributelady.com  

This service to our veterans & nation all began, the day after 9/11, when I wrote a song called, "God Will Prevail – The Victim’s Anthem."  Just my thoughts, my faith that God will prevail…The song quickly became known as "The Victim’s Anthem."

I remember asking my Sunday school class to PRAY…because I knew God, was calling me to get this song to the victims & their families…but HOW? At that time we were looking at some possible 5,000 victims.  I had no way to make cds so my husband and I decided to record the song and put it on the internet in an effort to express my condolences to the victim’s & their families, along with millions of others around the world.  It went on the internet…with the hopes it would be of comfort to them.  Within days, it went worldwide…rippling throughout the firefighting & police communities & beyond.  

Later that next week, while sitting in church on a Wednesday evening I sat crying, as did so many others, as we remembered the families. I remember thinking,"I Will Keep You Alive!" Thus another tribute song was born. 

Many folks began writing and asking for more of my music so some love songs were then added and my own website developed. 

The comments began pouring in from all over the world and were extremely overwhelming and humbling. One of the first firefighters to respond to the song, God Will Prevail, was firefighter Captain Lee Muller in Aiea, Hawaii. Over the next several months, we would become dear friends, exchanging each other’s lives & cultures via email. 

Then in the summer of 2002, we would take the first of many trips to come…to deliver my CDs into the very hands of those who inspired the songs.  I took my first trip to New York to pass out 100 cds to any firefighter or policeman I could find…my personal, "Thank You" to them, and, a gift of condolence.  

We also traveled to Hawaii for the first time, to meet my "guys" at Engine 10.   Captain Muller’s friendship soon inspired a new song, "You Rescued Me" the second verse of that tribute, was penned in reference to the firefighter’s heroic efforts on 9/11. 

Later that fall, we returned to Oahu.  This time, we visited the Arizona Memorial.  That was the most humbling experience of my life. We visited on the anniversary of 9/11. There were huge beautiful purple wreaths placed in the memorial from Vietnam Veterans, 9/11 victims’ families and WW II Veterans.  We experienced the reverent laying of leis upon the surface of the water.  Standing over the sunken Arizona, I was overwhelmed with emotions, then later after returning in November 2002 "Remembering Pearl" (Harbor) became yet another tribute song.   

Over the next few years, many more songs have been written. Many in tribute to friends and family, also. 

Then, when I awoke,  early one fall morning, in 2004 (just days before my youngest son, David, would be sworn into the Army) I awoke in tears, feeling like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders and could not stop crying. I couldn’t even tell my husband what was wrong, I didn’t even know "why," I just knew I could not stop crying. I told him I would be ok and after he and my son had gone to work, I sat down at my piano my trusted friend, companion and as my tears fell my heart and soul poured out into song. "It Is The Soldier" was born into song, my cry to God, on behalf of my son, David.

My husband Larry S. Wiseman accompanied on trumpet and in the next few days we recorded it. After hearing it played back, my first thoughts were, "This is like a new National Anthem," encompassing so many of America’s heritages.  It has a Native American beat, the chant of an African American melody, the flair of Mexican American trumpet melody, the celtic sounds of the Irish American, the Tahitian sounds of the Pacific, the gospel roots of my southern heritage, and focuses on the very heart and soul of our nation and our soldiers.

Most importantly, it is the heart & soul of a soldier’s mom. My cry to God on behalf of my son, now SPC David Dale, currently stationed at Fort Hood, Texas.  

Freedom…is…NEVER free!  I know the price of freedom, the cost, the sacrifice.  

I decided to put a tribute page on my website, to honor my son’s service and committment. I also wanted to include a photo of my cousin, Guy Lamar Mears, Jr.  who was killed in Vietnam, in remembrance of  his sacrifice.   

I began to search the internet, in hopes of finding a photo and perhaps a memorial page.   I found only one tiny little paragraph regarding his life & sacrifice.  I was devastated.

NO ONE SHOULD BE FORGOTTEN!    

So, as I began to research the incident that took his life, I found myself learning about The Vietnam Memorial Wall and was overcome with 35 years of grief. Thus giving birth to the song in Loving Memory of my cousin, Guy Lamar Mears, Jr.  "6 West-Line 5- (Go There For Me)" the position of my cousin’s name on the wall.  

After putting those songs on my site & sharing the info with others, I was contacted by the President of The American Veteran’s Traveling Wall & invited to perform for some of their venues.  In May 2005, we performed these tributes in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. The response from veterans was overwhelming. I took 100 CDs and passed them out to veterans & visitors.       

Then, in June 2005, we were requested to perform for the Pen-T 9/11 Memorial Dedication Ceremony in Green Bay, Wisconsin, which the President was to possibly attend but had to decline.

Later that evening, we performed a concert of my tributes at their request, at the acclaimed Meyer Theatre for the victims families. That, was an incredible honor. First performed live, back in Sept. 2004, for firefighters in San Diego,"God Will Prevail – The Victim’s Anthem," was now being performed live for the actual victims’ families, as God had first placed on my heart two years prior to get the song to the victims’ families. There was an enormous sense of completion doing, what God’s called me to do. 

Interest was also expressed at that time, for us to possibly perform at the Pentagon, for an upcoming memorial dedication in 2006, which would be an incredible honor if chosen to do so.

We  were also invited and performed for a Soldier Party in June 2005 sponsored by Texas Military Family Foundation entertaining the troops from nearby Fort Hood, Texas.

By then it had become apparent to me that God was calling us into full-time volunteer work, to honor veterans across this nation.  We have humbly accepted the calling and offer our services on a volunteer basis only. I make as many CDs as I can afford to take and give them as gifts at each event and performance. 

In Dec. 2005, we performed for the Pearl Harbor Survivor’s Remembrance Day Ceremony in Macon, Ga. for the remaining survivors. To actually sing " Remembering Pearl " for the very folks who lived through that dreadful day was one of the most rewarding times of my life.   

Affirmation of this "calling" God has bestowed on me towards veterans recently came in the form of an award by Vietnam veteran, author and President of Military Writer’s Society of America for the CD collection of tributes titled, "It Is The Soldier"-Never Forget- TRIBUTES "2005- CD of the Year- AWARD." 

Folks may show their support for the soldier who inspired the Tribute Song, " It Is The Soldier " at www.messagesfordavid.com

To download any of Susan Wiseman’s Tribute songs for free here at VT click here or go here: https://www.veteranstoday.com/downcat4.html

Related Sites from Susan Wiseman

• www.itisthesoldier.com
• www.6west-line5.com
• www.gothereforme.com 
• www.godwillprevail.com
• www.thevictimsanthem.com
• www.rememberingpearl.com
• www.yourescuedme.com
• www.thetributelady.com
• www.larrywiseman.com