Lunch Break Videos: Johnny Cash, Whitney Houston perform “The Battle Hymn Of The Republic”

This Memorial Day is especially meaningful for my family because just two days ago, my uncle Pete – a Korean War veteran – died.

He is my mom’s only brother and they remained close all their lives.

While I knew my uncle had served three years in the US Navy, I didn’t know until just the other day that he had tried to enlist when he was just 16. He lied about his age and had to be stopped by my grandmother. But two years later, when he was 18, he enlisted and served his country with honor.

While Memorial Day was established to honor those who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces, it’s also a good time to remember all of those who served and are no longer with us.

Here are two versions of The Battle Hymn of the Republic to help mark the day. The first is from the Sept. 27, 1969 episode of The Johnny Cash Show and the second is Whitney Houston singing at a “Welcome Home Heroes” concert in Norfolk, Virginia in 1991.