GREG LATO

Award winning family music artist and children’s book author Greg Lato is highlighting and amplifying the voices of military kids and families with a special new project. “I have recorded a children's music album where the songs are inspired by meetings and conversations with military families. The experience of hearing their stories and what they go through was amazing!” Greg says. The album features military kids, active-duty musicians and veterans. 

His third children’s album, titled Dandelion: Songs Inspired by Military Kids and Families got its name because the dandelion is the official flower of the military child. It represents the resilience and adaptability of military children. The title track features a military kids choir from CAMMO (Center for American Military Music Opportunities) in Virginia.

Greg Lato is no stranger to military life; he was an aircraft firefighter on the flight deck of the USS Constellation aircraft carrier in the United States Navy for 4 years. 

Greg says, “As a military veteran, I have learned how important it is for people from many different backgrounds to come together in a meaningful and positive way to navigate change and accomplish a common goal. (The song ‘Shine So Bright’ featuring a military kids choir from Portsmouth Rhode Island middle school highlights this idea that together we are stronger, it takes a village to be heard and being brave is our superpower.) 

Now I have listened to these wonderful military families in order to make their voices heard through song. I am letting people know, who are not in that world, what they go through and endure to serve this country and allow us to enjoy the freedoms we all have. 

Like military veteran and spouse Joshua Chiarini said during our conversation with his military family, ‘Freedom is not free!’” The song ‘Bigger Than Me’ features the sentiment about being involved in something bigger than yourself.

Greg adds, “The journey that this project has taken me on has gone beyond my expectations. It has run the gamut of emotions from heartfelt to happy and everywhere in between. There are a lot of themes on the album that are central to the military family experience. Moving from place to place, meeting new friends, constantly being the new kid, dealing with a spouse and parent that is away, and the wonderful support system that they encounter wherever they go.” Songs like ‘Home Is Not a Place’ and ‘Hi, I’m New Here!’ (a duet with 14-year-old military kid Kaleyana Ludwig) highlight these common experiences. The song ‘Helping Out’ (a duet with Iraq War veteran and fellow children’s music artist Mr. Pete’s Playhouse) is about the kids helping to hold down the fort at home while a parent is deployed.

For example, the kids in the Kiser Family and the Rivers Family have not stayed in one school for more than a couple of years. They were asked how they deal with the constant change in their young lives and ultimately as a result of it, what does home mean to them? Even though many of the kids go through these similar experiences, they often deal with things in different ways. Whether it is keeping family traditions alive by bringing their Christmas decorations to each location, family game nights or like Cecilia Rivers says, "Hearing the birds chirp wherever we have lived makes me feel like nothing’s changed.”