The Blue and the Gray Video

In 2013 I was approached by student and friend Christine Tomavich to see if I was interested in putting a poem, written by her Great Grandfather Francis Miles Finch, to music. This conversation led to the creation of both a song and a video based on the poem. I included the song on my “First Person” CD and the video, produced by Bob Remington, is available here for viewing.

The Blue and the Gray (From “First Person” CD)

An Inspiration for Memorial Day

The birth of this video and song has an interesting history.  In 2013 I learned that a relative I had never known was living near me in Colorado.  We met several times and talked about our Great Grandfather Francis Miles Finch’ famous poem “The Blue and the Gray” and how relevant the idea of his poem is for today.

She spoke passionately about how important it was that the sentiment of reconciliation be rekindled in the country, as it was so needed now with the increasing acrimony and partisanship.  I had known her only a short time when she passed away, but the intensity of her message stayed with me.

Finch had been inspired by a newspaper article in the New York Tribune which recounted how soon after the Civil War, a ceremony took place at Friendship Cemetery in Columbus Mississippi where women placed flowers on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers buried in the cemetery. Finch was so moved by this brave gesture that it inspired him to write “The Blue and the Gray”, a poem whose strong imagery is matched by a haunting and lilting rhythm.   The poem was published in The Atlantic Monthly in September, 1867.

I brought the poem to my guitar teacher, Jim Remington, who felt that the cadenced verses would make a wonderful song. Then his brother, Bob Remington,  wanted to be a part of bringing this to life as a video with images highlighting the context of the origin of the song.  Reaching out to Emilie and Jack White in Columbus Mississippi brought encouragement and support and we obtained photos of Friendship Cemetery where the women had placed flowers on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers.

An article entitled The Blue and the Gray Memorial Day’s Most Famous Poem Its History and Its Author by H.J.W. Dam says: “Poetry has a power all its own.  Set to music it may dethrone a dynasty and remake a nation.”  Finch was also a songwriter and would certainly have applauded seeing his poem become a song.

Decoration day preceded the establishment of Memorial Day and Finch, modestly, had no idea his poem would so touch the national consciousness that it inspired the creation of Memorial Day honoring all the war dead.

We hope this video and song remind us of the sentiment of reconciliation that inspired the poem and help us to respect each other no matter what side we are on in our nation’s great debates.  Let us remember this as we honor the sacrifice of our fellow citizens who helped to forge our nation with its unique history and destiny.

Christine Guerlac Tomovich
Lakewood, Colorado
May, 2014