Hi I am brand new here. I have admired and loved John Wayne all my life. Grew up with him as a role model and father figure. (My dad has the John Wayne nose and attitude!) I look forward to future discussions. :D

I am listening to my new CD that I have been actively looking for 15yrs. It came in the mail yesterday! I Knew it exsisted and never could find it until my husband saw it in a military magazine advertised. The John Wayne family has re-released the Tape and now in CD of John Wayne's America Why I Love Her. I am so excited and had to share with other John Wayne fans that I finally have that CD. You can order it online through several companies I imagin. I got mine through County Music Greats at www.purecountrymusic.com .

Dukette

Hello Dukette. I also have the CD and the Album of "America: Why I Love Her". It kind of gives ya chills just listening to it. I had always wanted the album but never could find it anywhere. When I finally got a computer and was able to look on ebay, I found me a copy and bid on it right away. If you are a collector of Duke stuff, check out ebay and get yourself the album. Has a great picture of him on it and the price has really come down on them. I remember you couldn't touch one for under $50 but now they are going cheaper. I recommend it to anyone who wants to be inspired by some great poetry reading from Duke. Mark

Hi Dukette!
The local country station plays America Why I Love Her sometimes and it does give ya goose bumps. What a special and unique person he was. Look forward to hearing from ya.
Have a good one,
LittleDuke

Thanks Mark and Littleduke for replying. I also appreciate the album info. I have not had luck with ebay betting. I always seem to get outbid but I guess I could try that buy outright option. :rolleyes:

The voice does give me chills. It also gives me comfort. I wish more radio stations would play it to the american population. Thanks again for stopping by! :D

I recently got the CD at Amazon.com. It was reasonably priced, and they have tons of other John Wayne stuff as well. Some of it is used, but in excellent condition and seriously discounted over the "new" of the same item.

My wife finds the Duke's voice soothing when we listen to it at bedtime.

Chester

Hello--

To all those that have honored John Mitchum's "America, Why I Love Her" by displaying the poem on their website (or posting it on a forum, as the case may be), we thank you. We knew John Mitchum, the author of this poem, to be a Great American Patriot.
We are currently working on a broad-based grass-roots effort to make "America, Why I Love Her" Our National Poem and a permanent part of Our National Heritage. Join us, won't you? We would be pleased if you could provide a link to us at America, Why I Love Her for National Poem (http://bigjohnrecords.com). Feel free to elaborate on your own websites to this effect.

Thank you!

Steve Azbill
Big John Records
www.bigjohnrecords.com

AMERICA, WHY I LOVE HER
You ask me why I love her?
Give me time and I’ll explain.
Have you seen a Kansas sunset or an Arizona rain?
Have you drifted on a bayou down Louisiana way?
Have you watched the cold fog drifting over San Francisco Bay?
Have you heard a bobwhite calling in the Carolina pines,
Or the bellow of a diesel in the Appalachian mines?
Does the call of the Niagara thrill you when you hear her waters roar?
Do you look with awe and wonder at her Massachusetts shore
Where men who braved a hard new world first stepped on Plymouth’s Rock?
Do you think of them when you stroll along a New York City Dock?
Have you seen a snowflake drifting in the Rockies, way up high?
Have you seen the sun come blazing down from a bright Nevada sky?
Do you hail to the Columbia as she rushes to the sea?
Or bow your head at Gettysburg at our struggle to be free?
Have you seen the mighty Tetons? Have you watched an eagle soar?
Have you seen the Mississippi roll along Missouri’s shore?
Have you felt a chill at Michigan when on a winter’s day
Her waters raged along the shore in a thunderous display?
Does the word “Aloha” make you warm?
Do you stare in disbelief when you see the surf
Come roaring in at Waimea reef?
From Alaska’s cold to the Everglades,
From the Rio Grande to Maine-
My heart cries out, my pulse runs fast
At the might of her domain.
You ask me why I love her?
I’ve a million reasons why.
My beautiful America,
Beneath God’s wide, wide sky.

John Mitchum

Hello All
I have been reading comments about this poem and Duke's recitation of it but this was the first time I have read it. I like it not only for the images it creates but also for the sense of reverence for the geographic diversity of North America.

Hi

This has to be a first I´m using a Spanish internet on the Costa del Sol.

If you read them Orney Mitchum Boys by John Mitchum he gives a very good account of how ´Ämerica Why I Love Her´ came to be made. Apparentlty forrest tucker read some of Mitchum´s poetry and immediately showed John Wayne who after reading some of it was very moved. During the recording he was in the advanced stages of the cancer that would eventually kill him and had to constantly sip from a glass of whiskey. Sometmes he would swallow and apologize. He was also frightened that he wouldn´t do justice to the words. As the finished record shows he did more than justice.

At some point I believe it was suggested that John Mitchum be made Americas poet, similar I suppose to our own Poet Laureate. His death was a great shame.

Regards

Arthur.

Arthur,

It's great to "see" you! I remember posting on the board from Tombstone, Arizona, two years ago. What would a vacation be without having access to the John Wayne Message Board :rolleyes: ?

Thank you for sharing this further detail on the recording of America, Why I Love Her. We will listen to it a little differently the next time.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday!

Chester :newyear: and the Mrs. :angel1:

Originally posted by arthurarnell@Aug 28 2005, 05:35 AM
Hi

This has to be a first I´m using a Spanish internet on the Costa del Sol.

If you read them Orney Mitchum Boys by John Mitchum he gives a very good account of how ´Ämerica Why I Love Her´ came to be made. Apparentlty forrest tucker read some of Mitchum´s poetry and immediately showed John Wayne who after reading some of it was very moved. During the recording he was in the advanced stages of the cancer that would eventually kill him and had to constantly sip from a glass of whiskey. Sometmes he would swallow and apologize. He was also frightened that he wouldn´t do justice to the words. As the finished record shows he did more than justice.

At some point I believe it was suggested that John Mitchum be made Americas poet, similar I suppose to our own Poet Laureate. His death was a great shame.

Regards

Arthur.
20926


Howdy Arthur,
Hope you're having a great time, and glad you can still access the board.
Take care,
Colorado Bob