Blue Collar Fighting Man Performed by Chad Van Rys
(To The
Fallen Records artist) Written by Chad Van Rys, Charlie Boland, and Kirk Wesley Boland
Copyright 2008 Full Metal Jacket Music
A heartfelt tribute to our Veterans that came
about during U.S. Marine Chad Van Rys' third tour in Iraq in 2006 .
. . Chad Van Rys and Kirk W. Boland, met while at
Camp Ar Ramadi, where Chad first performed this song for our troops
. . . In 2008, the team worked with Kirk's brother, Charlie
Boland, on the song in Nashville. The video was made after
attending a touching Memorial Day Ceremony in Walterboro,
SC, where they still honor the sacrifices of our troops.
"As a father of a son, who is a Marine
veteran and served in Iraq . . . it is really great to know a
troop or veteran like Chad Van Rys and see him use his vocal
and musical talents to express his love and pride of America
based upon his own military experience . . . and being
recognized for it. Semper Fi Chad!"
David Bancroft, founder of USA Patriotism! (March 2009)
Chad Van Rys' Own
Words...
“When I was on Active Duty, I
used to play the guitar with some of my buddies, but
then it changed a little. Instead of playing with my
buddies, somehow I ended up playing for my buddies,
and they were making requests and asking me to learn
their favorite songs.
I don't know what they would
say, but as for me, the music was such a blessing
out in the desert. It could have been a miserable
day, but once I started playing the guitar and some
of them started singing along, it almost felt like I
was back home at the lake with some friends, just
relaxing by a campfire. It was therapeutic.”
Chad Van Rys is currently prominently
featured in "Born Again
American" video launched by Norman Lear and Declare
Yourself. Declare Yourself is a non-profit dedicated to
encouraging people to serve their country, including
military service.
