So Brave’ song honors son serving in Iraq

So Brave’ song has become a voice for mothers searching for comfort

Nashville, TN Our nation has long revered the mothers of her soldiers. From Blue Stars in their windows to care packages filled with love and the special touches that only a mother would know a soldier’s mom is herself a valiant warrior. They wait for news from the battlefield, they pray their sons and daughters will soon come home and they search for the words that express their pride and hope as they count the days until their soldiers return.

When award-winning actor Gary Sinise, an active supporter of U.S. Armed Forces and veterans, heard Angela Lashley’s story he invited Angela to Washington to perform Memorial Day Weekend at the GI Film Festival. As Angela took the stage to sing her song, she shared the story of how her son Jonathan had called to say he was joining the Army he would become a member of the 82^nd Airborne. Angela and her husband, Jeff, began to talk about how Jon had always been courageous and loyal, with a great sense of duty.’ They knew he would be going to Iraq. Angela asked her husband "when did Jon become so brave? That night Angela sat down to write "So Brave, her tribute to a brave son that has become an American anthem for soldiers’ moms everywhere.

After her performance, Gary Sinise said, "With 'So Brave', Angela is doing a great thing not just for her son, but for all soldiers in this war and she has my support."

Angela and her occasional writing partner Byron House, a Grammy-nominated bass player in Nashville, penned "So Brave hoping the song would bring a voice to thousands of moms searching for some comfort and acknowledgement that their brave sons and daughters are remembered while deployed and embraced upon their return.

"We were so proud when Jonathan told us he was joining the Army, said Angela Lashley. "In writing "So Brave, I wanted to recognize Jon's bravery and acknowledge how proud we were of his decision to serve. "So Brave has also given women who have embraced the song a voice’ within the media and a way to share their feelings. Every soldier’s mom wants to make sure that there is no renaissance of the Vietnam-era’s ill treatment of returning service men and women."

Inspired by the mothers that call, write, and email their thanks for So Brave,’ each eager to share stories of their sons and daughters serving in harm’s way, Angela wrote a special tribute to the women who wear an honorary crown of reverence and respect, entitled Soldiers’ Mom.’ The verses of this moving song are true stories of real mothers, the chorus is a statement of the daily reality every soldier’s mother knows well and endures out of respect for their soldiers’ voluntary service.

So Brave’ is available for download on iTunes and CD Baby and you can listen to So Brave’ and hear a clip of Soldiers’ Mom’ (the song will soon be available on iTunes and CD Baby) by visiting: www.sobravesong.com. Angela has been a long-time partner of Soldiers’ Angels (www.soldiersangels.org) where you can also purchase So Brave’ with a portion of the sale donated to the charity’s work supporting deployed service men and women.

As Jonathan serves his second tour in Iraq, Angela continues to write songs and spread the word about So Brave’ and Soldiers’ Mom’ in the hope that mothers and their soldier children across the country will hear her message: "we honor your service, we respect your sacrifice and we pray you come home soon.

Media notes: Photos of Angela Lashley and her son Jonathan available upon request.