Country Singer Wants to Use Real Homecoming Footage in Music Video

Ten years into this war most of us have one — or more — homecoming reunion videos. We watch them over and over again at first, and then they’re relegated to the dusty recesses of our computer’s hard drive. Aside from saving them to show the kids and grandkids someday, we don’t know what to do with them.

Well, Country Singer Jamie O’Neal wants you to search your files and send her the videos. The powerful-voiced crooner, whose hits include, “There is No Arizona”, “When I Think About Angels”, “Trying to Find Atlantis”, and “Somebody’s Hero”, wants to use real homecoming footage in a video for her song “Soldier Comin’ Home.”

O’Neal is a long-time military supporter and a spokeswoman for the Fisher House, but, lest you think this is another tear-jerking, flag-waving song (not that there's anything wrong with that...) the song is actually not about the military, the war or any of the standard patriotic fare. It's about a woman who sees a soldier get off a plane and run, totally excited and not caring who was watching, towards his wife. You can listen to the song for yourselves here.

She says in the lyrics:
...Made me stop and wonder when’s the last time you looked at me
Like you were a soldier comin’ home
Like you counted the nights you were gone
Like each moment together’s more precious than ever because you’re safe inside of my arms
Like you can’t get enough of me when you make love to me like you were a soldier comin’ home.
That’s when it hit me, just the way she was looking at him.
Caught up in the moment she forgot all the lonely she’s been...

"I am really thrilled to share their precious homecomings with the world,” O’Neal said. “The song "Soldier Comin' Home" is about everyday people looking to soldiers for their inspiration. We can only imagine the sacrifice and bravery required. Its also about not taking the little moments for granted. All any of us has is today and we need to be more aware of how precious our loved ones are."

You can enter the contest by clicking here and uploading your homecoming video. In addition to seeing your family in a nationally-released video, there are also some great prizes and you get a free download of the song just for entering.

O’Neal said she loves performing for the military and that troops are her favorite audience. "That's why I wanted to do the contest, to shine a light on my heroes," she said.

Both of her parents were entertainers and played for the troops in Vietnam during the war, she said. "They came under attack a few times. So its natural for me to follow in their footsteps."

As for the Fisher House, she said she became interested in working with the organization, which provides accommodations and comfort items for military family members while their soldier is receiving medical treatment, after learning about how they help families be together during treatment and healing. When she was offered the chance to place her song, “Soldier Comin' Home" on the "My Country Smash Hits Vol. 2" compilation — which donates a percentage of every sale to Fisher House — she said she jumped at the opportunity.