Brave New Day

The Star Spangled Banner is the only national anthem that contains a question: “Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave, o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?”

Someone has answered that question:

“Because we are the brave
Yes we are the brave
We'll fight tyranny
In the name of the free
We are the U.S. of A

For those unaware
That flag is still there
It's our future to save
This land of the brave
The U.S. of A”

In the summer of 2015, I discovered the band Madison Rising:

“America’s most patriotic rock band is on a mission to reignite authentic American culture through great rock music. Since the release of their first album in 2011, the band has worked tirelessly to create an entirely new genre of music – patriotic rock. Combining a brilliant classic rock sound with inspirational tributes to our men and women in uniform, it is clear that this band is on a mission to not only make great music, but to also send a message that American culture is alive and well. Executive Producer: Richard Mgrdechian”

Their lead singer was Dave Bray, a former Navy corpsman and sniper in the Marine Corps, traded his uniform for a rock guitar and microphone, becoming lead singer for Madison Rising in 2011.

I can’t remember how I discovered Madison Rising’s Star-Spangled Banner, but it inspired the Patriot in me. I played this video for all of my Intermediate school students the first time they came with their classes to the Library. We stood for the entire song, and the majority of the students loved it. I played the audio of this song every time classes came to the Library all year long, at full volume. I never tired of seeing 5th and 6th graders rocking out to our National Anthem!

When I decided that I would use this song as part of my Our Nation’s Foundations curriculum, I friended Dave Bray on Facebook and told him my plan to use his song. He replied that I should contact the public relations manager at Madison Rising, and within a few weeks, I was thrilled to receive a package of posters, and CDs to use in my school library.

From motorcycle-usa.com:

By the time Dave Bray’s voice bellows out the first words, an unexplainable wave wells up inside you, be it pride, be it patriotism, it stems from hearing a symbolic song in a fresh, harder, edgier way. It reminds one that despite its faults, we still live in a powerful and proud country.

But reinventing a song that strikes such an emotional chord in people is risky business. Madison Rising’s lead singer, Dave Bray, was keenly aware of this, but for him the challenge it proposed outweighed the risks. Here’s how he explains why the band took on a song like “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

"Well, that was another that I kind of took on because somebody told me I couldn’t do it. They said we can’t touch “The Star-Spangled Banner,” it’s too reverent, people get too bent out of shape about it. We knew it was going to be scrutinized and I knew it was going to be scrutinized, so when they told me I couldn’t do it, I just sat down. I was on a train back-and-forth for three hours, back-and-forth to New York and I was like, all right, I need to get working on this song. So that’s what I did, until I got it to a point that I liked and it ended up turning out really good.”

Inexplicably, in early 2015, Richard Mgrdechian made the decision to replace Dave Bray with Rio Hiett, an Air Force veteran. It was a shock to MR fans and a stunning blow to Dave Bray. Immediately, a Facebook group called We Support Dave Bray! was started for his fans to gather and give each other comfort and encouragement. This is part of what Dave posted on We Support Dave Bray

For those of you who truly care:

I have been truly blessed to be a part of Madison Rising...to me, it was so much more than just a band...It was a place for me to profess my love of God and Country in a way that was exciting and entertaining to people of all generations. It was meeting other like-minded Patriots, Veterans, Young Marines and American families who, in turn, would carry on the good word and the mission of the band.

I still stand by what I said, when I said that "Madison Rising is a continuation of my service and my loyalty to this Country".

I loved the job, the music and the mission and did them all to the utmost best of my ability.

I left everything I had on every stage I played. My family and I gave 5 years of blood sweat and tears to this project. We lived, breathed, ate, and even slept MR...My wife, Becky, who for the last few years has worn many hats by working tirelessly as the Director of Operations, booking, logistics, social media, outreach, PR and customer relations as well as being a stay at home mom for our two young boys. She has been not only the backbone of this operation but also our family.

We've been asked to step down from the positions we so truly loved..and since then, the unbelievable amount of prayers and support that you have given us as a family has been unwavering and continual. Your outreach and love is what has kept us strong throughout these seemingly impossible times...but your prayers....your prayers have been the key to our strength and what has bound us together as a family. They have been felt and heard in ways that only The Almighty himself will chose to deliver on in His own due time.

Believe me when I say that the prayers of the people and the hands of God are truly at work.

It is my firm belief that without God...there is no country.

AMERICANS were once a people and a nation who were "with God"... And it was known, just the same, around the world, that God, was "WITH" our Nation. A people who were steadfast and strong in their belief and their faith. A people who knew that by putting God first in all things that the rest would be blessed.

Today, God is slowly being taken away from our Country and our people...His presence is being wrung slowly and relentlessly from within each and every generation in the name of diversification and political correctness. It is sure to be the demise of America if we don't stop the spread of this decay.

I know in my heart that many of you are seeing this happen and are feeling helpless...you are not alone...but helplessness is not going to fix this problem.

I'm here to tell you that inside each and every God fearing, Freedom loving, Flag waving Patriot that I've met along the way...is a Warrior. I know this because I've met you, I've shaken your hand and I've seen that Warrior spirit in your eyes.

So with that, I will close by asking you all to remember to keep close to your heart the things that are truly important in your lives...Faith...Family...and Love...but forget not Forgiveness...for we are all flawed human beings with our own crosses to bear.

Stay the Course...

Finish the Fight...&  Never Surrender!!!

I haven't given up...And neither should you!!!

I WILL see you all very soon on the other side of Freedom....In faith and arms my brothers and sisters...

IN FAITH AND ARMS!

-Brave Day

This illustrates the faith and patriotism of a man who pours out his devotion to both in every area of his life, especially on the music stage. After a few weeks of prayer and family discussions, Dave launched his own brand.
I had the privilege of interviewing Dave Bray in the summer of 2016, and was impressed by his devotion to making every part of his life a living sacrifice to the Lord, using any and every talent for His purposes. 

Since going solo, the Bray family has faced the challenge of a medical crisis suffered by their eldest son, Ryken, in October of 2016, but after surgery, he seems to be well on the road to recovery.

I and all of his fans can’t wait to see what Dave will do next as a musician and a Patriot. No matter what happens, he inspires us all to make every day a Brave Day.