“People often say that life begins at seventy.” For American World War II veteran Irving Locker, perhaps 101 is a new starting point in life, as he reached a new milestone just one day before his 101st birthday, becoming an official songwriter of a released song.
According to a report from the Associated Press on November 11, Locker currently resides in Florida and was involved in the Normandy Landings on June 6, 1944 during World War II.
Locker collaborated with the non-profit organization CreatiVets from Tennessee, along with veteran mentor Bart Crowe, composer Johnny Bulford, and his wife, to co-write the song “If Freedom Was Free,” which was recently released to the public.
CreatiVets, located in Nashville, known as the “capital of country music,” aims to assist veterans in healing trauma through artistic creation.
The chorus of the song reads: “If freedom was free, there wouldn’t be a mountain of metal and men beneath Normandy.” This encapsulates the core message Locker has continually conveyed to the world over the years, whether in classrooms or during speeches at the White House.
Locker believes that freedom is not free. People should be grateful for freedom and those who have sacrificed for it.
He emphasized, “People need to know and appreciate the fact that they are alive because others sacrificed. It’s not just words, it’s from the heart.”
Locker expressed his “incredible” excitement at being able to create music, something he never dared to dream of before. This holds significant meaning for him as music has been a very important part of his life.
He mentioned that he and his wife of 77 years still frequently go out dancing, tirelessly enjoying dances like the jitterbug and cha-cha for decades.
He added, reflecting on his fortune of being alive and active, knowing that many other veterans have passed away.
Recalling the war, he confessed, “Honestly, before the war, I never realized God’s existence. But I almost died, so I learned to thank God and to say that simple phrase: ‘But for the grace of God, there go I.'”
Previously reported by Dajiyuan, President Trump delivered his second State of the Union address in Congress on February 5, 2019. In his speech, he paid tribute to three invited veterans, including Locker.