As each year passes, we grow further and further away from the horrific events of World War II.
According to the National WWII Museum, the US Department of Affairs claims that only 558,000 of the 16 million Americans who served in WWII are still alive today.
TEDEd describes WWII as “one of the definitive events of the 20th century, if not all of human history”, and we owe it to our veterans to remember everything they went through for the rights and freedoms that we have today.
Now, a children’s choir from northern Utah has honored WWII vets and survivors with a heart-wrenchingly beautiful performance of Steve Schwartz’s “When You Believe”.
Originally written for DreamWorks Animation’s 1998 Prince of Egypt movie, “When You Believe” has been covered by various artists including Candice Glover, an American Idol contestant, and Celtic Woman, an all-female, Irish ensemble. But there’s no denying that the One Voice Children’s Choir’s version is the most meaningful.
Filmed on location on Omaha Beach and the Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial in Normandy, France, the children’s performance is dedicated to all veterans and individuals persecuted during WWII.
A video of the inspiring performance, which was uploaded to YouTube on July 6th, 2017, has already garnered over 1 million views. It begins by showcasing the beach and cemetery while three children violinists play in the background.
After about 40 seconds, the scene shifts to an angelic-looking girl with brown hair, walking barefoot on the beach and singing the first verse of the inspiring song:
“Many nights we prayed with no proof anyone could hear; in our hearts, a hope for a song we barely understood.”
She is then joined by a handsome young man, who continues the song, singing:
“Now we are not afraid, although we know there’s much to fear. We were moving mountains long before we knew we could.”
As the chorus of the song kicks in, the complete choir is revealed, singing the words with an innocence only a child’s voice can convey.
They sing, “Who knows what miracles you can achieve; when you believe somehow you will. You will when you believe.”
The song’s meaningful lyrics coupled with the children’s angelic voices and the vast emptiness of Omaha Beach make for a powerful viewing experience.
After singing the song in English, the group then moves on to Hebrew and French.
The entire video is mesmerizing and powerfully moving, definitely acting as a reminder of the struggles and hope experienced by those who lived through WWII.
As mentioned, people are in awe of this stunning performance— but the experience was meaningful for many of the mini vocalists themselves, as well.
They write:
It’s so amazing to see today’s youth honoring our veterans in such a unique and beautiful way.
Watch the full performance below, and don’t forget to check out the One Voice Children’s Choir Youtube channel for more stunning performances!
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