Actor-turned-singer Dennis Quaid took the stage to present the “Salute to Service” award to World War II veteran Andy Negria, who had a few words to say about the state of America today. After offering both a warning and an assessment of America, Negria then gave hope to the hundred in attendance that America would be okay and that its citizens should continue striving to bring the country back to its once-great status.
Negria leaned on his experience as a World War II veteran to talk about why he and his brother-in-arms fought in foreign wars to protect America and defeat evil on other continents. Hearing this from a veteran and a member of what many consider to be our country’s greatest generation resonated with viewers who listened closely to what he had to say.
Negria said, “I never thought that we fought so hard during World War Two to find the country in the condition that it is today. But let me let me assure all of you. Every time this country runs into a problem they solve have solved it. Regardless of what’s going on now. We will break this badness and get back to the good.”
Dennis Quaid then sat down with Fox and Friends to discuss the award and to talk about his new gospel album which he views as Christian music for the common man. Quaid shared his gratitude toward those that served along with a glimpse into his life and journey as a Christian who grew up in the Baptist Church.
Quaid spoke about his new album, saying, “I wrote a song called on my way to heaven about a few years ago that was in the movie ‘I Can Only Imagine,’ and Gaither approached me about doing the gospel record and so I wrote a bunch more and then did some like traditional songs, hymns that are up in the Baptist church. It was a blast. Did it right over here (in Tennessee).”
Quaid said, “I grew up in Bellaire, Texas, Houston, suburb of Houston in the 50s. Great time to grow up in America, it really was, and the baptist church through my teenage years. I was you know I got kind of disillusioned really with with church for quite a while. I was a seeker I guess but came back to reading the Bible. And it was the red words of Jesus really kind of brought me back and I’m a Christian. I’ve always been a Christian.”
Quaid was quick to thank Negria for service in the military that set the stage for all of us to have what we call our home today. Dennis understands that men like that were the only thing saving our country from the evil that sought to tear us apart. With the release of his gospel album, Quaid is ushering in a new part of his career where he leans even more heavily into his musical talents and it will be interesting to see where that takes him.
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