Country star John Rich pays tribute to WW2 vets in new song, saying they're why America exists

Tribute to The Greatest Generation: Rich said that his grandfather who served in World War II was the inspiration for his new song titled "The Man." In 2023, because Veterans Day falls on a Saturday, federal employees will observe the holiday on Friday, Nov. 10, and many services from the government will also be closed that day.

By Charlotte Hazard

Published: November 9, 2023 11:00pm

Updated: November 10, 2023 7:38am

Music star John Rich pays tribute to World War II veterans in a new song, saying that without them America would not exist.

"Could America survive a World War II with the attitude that we have in America’s youth today?" Rich said in an exclusive interview with Just the News. "I wanted to write a song that would remind everyone about what 'The Greatest Generation' was. They’re the reason we still exist today."

Rich said that his grandfather who served in World War II was the inspiration for his new song titled "The Man."

"His entrance into the war and experience was one of those things he would talk about," Rich said. "Some [veterans] talked about it and some didn't. I wanted to memorialize his experience in a song. I hadn’t heard a song in a while that talked about 'The Greatest Generation.'"

While he wrote the song back in 2006 and has played it at multiple shows, the song wasn't officially released until this year.

For the music video, Rich had veterans from the Korean War, World War II, Vietnam and the Gulf War featured where they held up pictures of themselves when they first enlisted.

"We have a 102-year-old man holding a picture of himself at 19 when he enlisted," Rich said. "Having all these guys meet each other was absolutely phenomenal."

One of the lyrics in the song is: "if it wasn't for the good Lord and the man, there wouldn't be a breath of freedom in this land. When I see people on that TV taking shots at Uncle Sam, I hope they always remember why they can."

"Back in the forties, people were willing to do anything to save the country," Rich said. "Even though there was disagreement and arguments back then, everyone agreed to serve when it came to standing up to the U.S."

He added that most young people between ages of 18 and 25 don't have an appreciation for the U.S. and it would likely take hard times for them to recognize how great America really is.

“I think they have been educated on it and it didn’t have any effect," Rich said. "Young people have never experienced the threat of losing their country, and it might take pain and suffering. You need to understand your freedom is not inherited. It is earned."