00:0081 years ago, a young Marine flamethrower, Don Graves, landed on Iwo Jima in the Pacific,
00:06February 19, 1945.
00:09When the Stars of Stripes were raised atop Mount Suribachi in history's most famous
00:12flag raising, Don was there on Iwo Jima.
00:15Of 335 Marines in his battalion, only 18 walked off unscathed.
00:20Now Don's World War II experience led him to the ministry and a love of singing.
00:26That love continues today, and get this, last year, at the very tender age of 100 years,
00:35he signed a national recording contract.
00:38Beat that if you can.
00:40That was awesome.
00:40Ladies and gentlemen, to lead us, and I want every one of you to sing it, because if he's
00:46singing it, you sing it.
00:47Leading us, and God bless America, welcome that young guy, 100-year-old hero of World War
00:55War II, the amazing Don Graves.
01:00Thank you, thank you.
01:02I consider this a great privilege to stand here and sing about my nation.
01:12And if that isn't good enough for it, it'll serve you right.
01:19God bless America, land that I love.
01:30Stand beside her and guide her through the night with the light from above, from the mountain
01:42land, to the prairie, to the ocean, white we're full.
01:51God bless America, our home sweet home.
02:01God bless America, our home sweet home.
02:23That was impressive.
02:25Don, thank you so much, and thank you for your service.
