Hello dear friends! Its not often you will find me talking about what we’ve been up to with our 1940s shows. But here I am, typing away to give you all a special little story that just took place a couple Saturdays ago.
A while back, one of our patrons contacted us to book us for a 45 minute show at a Veterans home in Georgetown, Ohio. We found out that there are only two of these homes in Ohio, with the second one being situated several hours north of us. Before this contact, we didn’t even know there were such homes in Ohio, and you can imagine how very glad we were to have the honor of going to the one just right outside our neck of the woods! During the weeks prior to the gig, the girls and I were working on our new Andrews Sisters uniforms (as seen in the photo above), and during the week we finished them up, nearly to the day of the performance. It was such a great feeling–we were at last outfitted in the 1940s military inspired getups we had been dreaming about attaining ever since we discovered the Andrews Sisters! And thanks to Brigid’s meticulous eye and stubborn pursuit to find the perfect patterns and the perfect fabric, they ended up being just that–perfect! All the way down to our 1940s fashioned dance shoes, with the forthcoming addition of ties and tie chains, we can safely say after long searches on the internet that these three uniforms are the only ones of their kind. (Brigi dear, you’re a wonder!)
The good thoughts didn’t stop there however, for better than everything else I have just mentioned was the realization that these newly made, and almost perfect (tie-less) uniforms were going to make their debut for an audience who would recognize them by a mere side glance as being something akin to a WAC uniform, and by them recall a depth of history that we three young performers will never know as well as they. Yes indeed, the Lord meant for these uniforms to be seen by the many pairs of ancient eyes belonging to Veterans from WWII through the Vietnam War that day, and we were thankful beyond words.
In a word, the day was superb. We had a rousing good show, and after we were through on stage, the girls and I were presented, by three charming Veterans, with bouquets of rosy-hued carnations. These fine gentlemen rolled their way up in wheelchairs, but as they approached, I pictured them instead as the young men of war they once were, and tears nearly came to my eyes. We were overcome by their sweetness, and by the appreciation the VFW Post of Mount Orab (Post 9772 sponsored the show at the Veteran’s Home) showed the girls and I that day.
After all was said and done, we three went around to each Veteran, something we don’t often get to do because of this reason, or that agenda, but not that day. We were given welcoming hugs, and even a few proposals after we thanked the men for their service, and asked them various questions about their experience during the Wars. All of their accounts were unique, and some more foggy than others, but not one was more important or valued less than the other. These men had worked hard to keep our Nation free. Some didn’t like to talk, and one old gentlemen, whom I will never forget, couldn’t even stay long enough to hear the first tune of our show because he was so overcome with emotion and tears. The heartache still lingers in the souls of these fine men, and we are all indebted to them for their valiant service.
What do you think of our new Performance Uniforms?
Have you ever had the privilege of talking to and making friends with a Veteran or two?
What is the best question to ask a Veteran?
Much love and blessings!
Jessica, the Eldest Sister & Singer
Sarah says
04/12/2016 at 3:07 PMI love your new uniforms! I think they are just perfect. I really appreciate hearing about your singing gigs and especially your interactions with the veterans. They gave so much and did it as their duty. And while most will say they didn’t do anything special or deserve any thanks for doing what needed to be done, they sure deserve our gratitude, thanks, and appreciation!
Sarah
sewcharacteristicallyyou.weebly.com
Linda says
04/12/2016 at 3:43 PMYou have a very nice blog and I love the photos! Thank you so much for sharing, and warm greetings from Montreal, Canada. 🙂
Aria says
04/12/2016 at 5:16 PMThat is sooo sweet! We have many veterans in our family and my great-grandfather who is ninety-one and still living independently with my great-grandmother, was in WWII. It’s wonderful you girls could go and minister to them. Also, I love your uniforms! They’re so cute! 🙂
Nicole says
04/12/2016 at 6:10 PMWhat a beautiful blessing you were able to be to those veterans. I was tearing up just reading this! And your uniforms are perfect for the Andrews sisters!
http://www.theartyologist.com
MARLENE says
04/12/2016 at 9:02 PMI love your new uniforms. The colors are beautiful ( I especially like the shades of beige and khaki ) . You’ll make a splash at your next performances. Congratulations for your creativity and your work.
PS . thank you for the compliment on my canvas little sweep .
Good day and see you soon.
Dani M. says
04/12/2016 at 10:49 PMThose uniforms turned out beautiful! Do I see another Brijee pattern forthcoming? 🙂
What a blessing to the veterans you must have been. I’ve sung at nursing homes, and it is so neat to see how much they love it!
Jane Sjoerdsma says
04/12/2016 at 11:39 PMYour new uniforms are gorgeous! You girls really are wonders! It is so touching to hear how you brightened the lives of so many brave men. My Grandfather was a vet, but he talked very little about most of his experiences. He told us only the lighter side. He was a terrible prankster and he entertained us with hilarious stories of his trouble-making antics. We do not even know if he had any medals awarded, although we believe he did. He just never wanted to talk about things like that. Yours are rays of sunshine to so many folks! Keep up the good work!
Lexi says
04/13/2016 at 1:14 AMYou look superb! More than superb actually, you look incredibly historically accurate. You three look like you waltzes out of history, and it sounds like your day was made extra special by that. What a great service for the Vets, and also a learning opportunity for you. What a fabulous day! Thanks for sharing! I hope you’ll do a more detailed outfit post a some point. Take care!
Claire says
04/13/2016 at 2:39 AMThose outfits are wonderful! The best yet! My grandfather was a veteran but he was pretty much the only one I’ve ever spoken too, I wish it were more!
Jessica Cangiano says
04/13/2016 at 5:18 AMYour uniforms are truly lovely. So classic, elegant and becoming – plus, I truly adore the earth tones.
♥ Jessica
Amy Elizabeth says
04/13/2016 at 2:20 PMYour last paragraph brought tears to my eyes! What an amazing experience and what a blessing you were able to have it!
Diane says
04/13/2016 at 6:41 PMIt’s a wonderful thing you all did! My grandfather was a WWII veteran.
Abby says
04/13/2016 at 6:51 PMThank you for sharing the sweet stories of your trip, it sounds like everyone (singers and audience) had a wonderful time. So very special!
Plus, your outfits are AMAZING. I hope you plan on doing another Boyer Sisters photo shoot in these so we can see more of them! Your hard work certainly paid off. 🙂
Blessings,
~Abby
Jesse says
04/13/2016 at 11:09 PMHi I’m a guy, but I always check your blog out to see if you post anything about your gigs. I think you thee singing to the veterans is beyond amazing to me! I am crazy about the past as you three are. You three dressing like the Andrews sisters is just awsome. You three are all one of a kind. I will be praying for your saftey on the roads.
Rebecca Young says
04/14/2016 at 5:01 AMYour outfits are amazing!
A very moving post
Thank you
Rebecca
Emmeline Grace says
04/15/2016 at 4:25 PMBeautiful outfits, and so accurately reproduced!!! This is such a beautiful post, and I couldn’t help tearing up at the part where the three veterans presented you with flowers…SO sweet! We owe great men like these so much.
Franziska says
04/16/2016 at 10:36 AMHello you three!
First of all, I have to say how much I enjoy your blog! One of the things I find most interesting is getting another perspective of the time before 1945 (I am from Germany). For example, such retirement homes don’t exist here for obvious reasons and there are no such World-War-II-remembrance-festivals. What is seen as a glorious time defending democracy on the blog and elsewhere is hereabouts silently remembered as a horrible time for so many.
Plus: Vintage fashion-enthusiasm starts only with the 50ies, but that’s maybe only my impression 😉
Anyhow, thank you for often brightening up my day!
Robert Boyd says
05/11/2016 at 3:17 PMLoved your new uniforms, What a wonderful concert you performed at the Veterans Home. How wonderful it was that you took the time to talk with the veterans after the concert. I look forward to seeing and hearing you in concert in Georgetown on the 19th of May. Hope one of you will sing the White Cliffs of Dover as one sister did at the Brown County Fair. I really enjoyed the song. Sorry I could not remember which sister sang this beautiful song.
Jeff says
05/21/2016 at 6:08 PMAfter seeing your performance on the courthouse square in Georgetown May 19 I decided to view your website. Thoroughly enjoyed your performance. Your uniforms, with ties, looked great!