Posted on Tue, Mar. 28, 2006
AROUND PLEASANTON: SUSAN GROSHANS
Song 'Good Night, Soldier' draws buzz

GOOD NIGHT, SOLDIER - Derek Clark lives two lives: mortgage broker by day and singer-songwriter by night. The Tracy resident has strong Pleasanton ties, having attended school here in his youth and still staying in contact with family and friends here.

His sister-in-law, Ann Martin, told me last week that Clark wrote and recorded the song "Good Night, Soldier" 18 months ago, and it has taken off with the speed of an F-14 Tomcat. KSFO radio has featured the song, and Pleasanton Military Mothers are e-mailing it to their sons and daughters serving overseas.

Derek has received e-mail from appreciative soldiers all over the world, as well as from mothers who play it at bedtime for children whose fathers are deployed.
So what makes this song so special? Perhaps it is the voice of Derek's 4-year-old reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, and his 2-year old cheering, "Yes! I love America!" Or perhaps it's the poignant lyrics that pull at your heartstrings.

Whatever the reason, the song has touched millions, and requests for personal appearances are rolling in. Clark recently performed at a military dinner in San Francisco and has been invited to Texas to help welcome home a battalion.
According to Martin, "For a good cry, log on to www.goodnightsoldier.com." You can hear the song and view the video at the site and buy the CD for $10. Half of the proceeds from CD sales will be donated to support military families.

MARCH FOR THE TROOPS -- The first annual "Support the Troops March-A-Thon," hosted by Foothill High School's Support the Troops Club, will take place Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Pleasanton Military Families Organization.
The 8-mile course begins and ends at the Foothill High School horseshoe. Water stations along the route are dedicated to branches of the armed services and will be manned by active members of the military.

The idea for the march came from club president Nick Christian, who started the club with student body president Elizabeth Usedom in November. Other club members include Tyler Galbraith, Sarah Fiala, Andrew Dibbern, Sam Hunter, Asia Bailey, Jacinda Lofland and Brad Hay. Christian doesn't presently have family members in the military, but he wears the dog tags of his maternal grandfather who served in WWII. His paternal grandfather served in Korea and his stepfather served in Vietnam.
"The goal of the club is to promote an apolitical stance on the war in respect to the troops, to regard them as citizens of the U.S. with a very difficult job and to support them 100 percent in any way possible," said Christian.

The club has held a few fund-raisers, including a dog tag fund-raiser and a T-shirt sale that raised $300. They are coordinating a student-to-troops letter-writing campaign and hosted a banquet for service families.

"It was an absolute success and, so far, one of the most moving (events) for me," Christian said about the banquet. "The parents were so grateful and touched."
For more information about Saturday's March-A-Thon, to make a pledge, sign up to participate, or buy a T-shirt, call Foothill High School at 925-461-6600.
AVHS LIBRARY FUND-RAISER -- Celebrate the arrival of spring, the culture of India and raise money for the Amador Valley High School Library -- all at one event.
AVHS PTSA invites you to a "Holi Blast" from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Hearst Elementary School on Case Avenue. Holi, India's traditional spring celebration, is an active, joyful event where everyone chases each other while throwing brightly colored powder and water at each other. Authentic Indian snacks and entertainment will be provided.

Participants are encouraged to wear old clothes, bring their own water guns and be prepared to laugh and have fun! Tickets are $5 per person and $10 per family. To purchase tickets, call 925-734-5015 or e-mail holiblast@bayhomeconnect.com.