Robert Augustine Seidel III

West Point, 2004

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by The Plain Dealer on August 24, 2007:

The Plain Dealer: Everything Cleveland MILITARY NOTES Songwriter adds his voice to effort to support troops Tuesday, August 07, 2007 Brian Albrecht Plain Dealer Reporter Local musician-songwriter Mark Reis is giving people the chance to support U.S. troops and their families, with a shot at winning guitars autographed by national recording artists. And it all started, appropriately enough, with a song. More than a year ago, Reis, 48, of Parma, wrote the music and lyrics for "Our Sacrifice," inspired by the war. The song opens: "If there ever was a time/ If there ever was a night/ When I wish I could have you by my side/ Oh then baby tonight's the night/ It's just me, the kids and the tears I cried/ I want the world to know/ Of our sacrifice." Reis recorded the song in Nashville and matched it with a music video on the Internet. He said the positive response from American troops and their families gave him the idea of helping them in a more tangible way. So Reis, a guitar technician for Joe Walsh and other artists, started working his contacts in the music industry. Fender donated a white guitar that now features a custom design of an American eagle, dubbed "The American Patriot Stratocaster." Other guitars were contributed by Peavey Musical Instruments, PRS Guitars, Taylor Guitars and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Dr. Z provided a custom amplifier. So far, Reis has gathered guitars autographed by such artists and groups as the Eagles, Bon Jovi, Michael Anthony, Sammy Hagar, Walsh, Buddy Guy, Kenny Chesney, Charlie Daniels, Alan Jackson, Gretchen Wilson, Lonestar, Sugarland and more. He hopes to collect others for three months of prize drawings starting in October. For $20, donors get a shot at winning a guitar or other prizes. Details are provided on http://www.oursacrifice.net Charities that will benefit from donations paid through PayPal include Stars for Stripes, which organizes tours for entertaining the troops; Operation Pinecone, a group that ships gift and care packages to service members; Sew Much Comfort, providing custom, prosthetic-suitable clothing for troops wounded in combat; and the 9/11 Help America Foundation. Our Sacrifice also plans to contribute to the Kevin Downs Foundation, which benefits a Tennessee National Guardsman who lost both legs and was severely burned in combat, and the wounded soldiers fund named for Army 1st Lt. Rob Seidel, a Pennsylvania soldier with Maryland ties killed in Iraq. Mary Hacker, founder of Operation Pinecone, who has been working with Reis, said the guitar fund-raiser was a good way to get the public involved. "Everybody wants to support the troops," she said. To Reis - whose search for corporate sponsors even included a pitch to the FedEx guy who recently came to his door with a delivery - the project was divinely inspired and guided. "I could've never done this on my own," he said. "I guess when you do something right for all the right reasons, everything's blessed."

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