Panama City Beach, FL (Top40 Charts/ DarkReds Official Website) In addition to the Memorial Day parades and speeches, a Panama City Beach band has produced Let's Say Thank You (To Our Sons and Daughters at War) offering Americans everywhere the opportunity to emotionally as well as monetarily recognize the sacrifices of our troops.
Intended as a straight up, direct and formal thank you to members of the Armed Forces from all generations, the DarkReds will make a contribution from the proceeds of each sale to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which supports the recovery and return of our physically and mentally wounded heroes and their families to a regular life. The band's goal is a million downloads by year's end.
Vince Delacruz, DarkReds leader and bass player, wrote the song which is available today. Vince was nominated for a 1985 Grammy for the Katrina and The Waves hit song, Walking On Sunshine. Let's Say Thank You (To Our Sons and Daughters at War) is available for download now for $1.00 at https://shop.darkreds.com and CD singles will be available by the end of May.
The pop/rock song challenges us, as a nation, to no longer take for granted the sacrifices made by our veterans and their families. The lyrics point to our blessings and offer up a simple thank you to our troops. Building positive energy throughout the song, a gospel choir joins the chorus to top off the thank you:
"Let's say thank you to our sons and daughters at war
Peace and freedom aren't free anymore
Fighting and dying on a distant shore
So let's say thank you to our sons and daughters at war"
"'Let's Say Thank You,' is about the luckiest people on earth, Americans, and how we often take for granted the men and women who have fought and died so we can remain the luckiest people on earth. 'Let's Say Thank You' is a chance for all of us to give something back. Support the Intrepid Fallen Heroes and their families. Say thank you."
The band members are no strangers to military ways. Delacruz' father taught in Air Force schools in Japan and the United Kingdom for over 30 years. Michael Russ, DarkReds drummer and back up vocalist, is also the son of a veteran and even traveled through Saigon when he was nine. Russ' dad retired in 1974, a full Colonel after 22 years in the Air Force fighting in Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Turkey.
About the DarkReds
The band, led by Vince Delacruz on bass and guitar, hails from Panama City Beach, Florida. Michael J. Russ, drummer and back up vocalist, is a local entrepreneur. Barry Fish, lead vocalist, is best known on Panama City Beach as the guitarist and lead vocalist for the Barry Fish Band that plays locally at the Margaritaville Restaurant. Find DarkReds online: https://www.darkreds.com , via the Twitter handle: @darkredsband and on Facebook: darkreds. Download Let's Say Thank You (To Our Sons and Daughters at War) at https://shop.darkreds.com.
About IFHF
The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund is a leader in supporting the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families. Begun in 2000 under the auspices of the Intrepid Museum Foundation and established as an independent not-for-profit organization in 2003, the Fund has provided close to $120 million in support for the families of military personnel lost in service to our nation, and for severely wounded military personnel and veterans. These efforts are funded entirely with donations from the public, and hundreds of thousands of individuals have contributed to the Fund. Visit https://www.fallenheroesfund.org for more information.
