Scotty McCreery Delivers a Moving Performance of “The Dash” at the National Memorial Day Concert

Scotty McCreery brought a deeply personal and patriotic moment to Washington, D.C., during the 2017 National Memorial Day Concert, performing his song “The Dash” in front of the U.S. Capitol.

The country singer appeared on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on May 28, 2017, as part of the 28th annual National Memorial Day Concert, which aired on PBS.

A fitting song for Memorial Day

Dressed in a suit with a gray dress coat and black tie, McCreery stood before a patriotic stage and the National Symphony Orchestra for an emotional rendition of “The Dash.”

Written by Kyle Jacobs and Preston Brust, the song reflects on the short line between the birth and death dates engraved on a tombstone. That dash, rather than the numbers surrounding it, represents the life a person lived.

Its message made the song particularly appropriate for a Memorial Day tribute. The lyrics focus on remembering those who have died and honoring the lives they lived rather than simply the dates recorded on their graves.

McCreery’s performance built steadily with the orchestra behind him, giving the song an appropriately solemn setting.

The story behind the performance

The emotional weight of the performance became even more apparent as footage of SFC Lewis Clark Walton appeared on the screen behind McCreery.

Walton was killed in action during the Vietnam War, but his remains were not found and returned home until 36 years later. His widow and adult children were seated in the audience during McCreery’s performance, making the tribute especially personal for the family.

As images of Walton and his family were shown, members of his family became visibly emotional and wiped away tears while McCreery sang.

The singer closed the performance surrounded by a choir and orchestra, bringing the tribute to a powerful conclusion.

McCreery later said he had always enjoyed performing “The Dash” and felt honored that the concert’s producers had invited him to participate and pay tribute to the men and women who had sacrificed their lives for the country.

“The Dash” and See You Tonight

“The Dash” appeared on McCreery’s 2013 album See You Tonight, his second studio album. The track was written by Kyle Jacobs and LoCash’s Preston Brust.

The album reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, adding another milestone to McCreery’s career following his American Idol victory.

The song has also carried a personal connection for McCreery. A family member of one of his band members, U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Andrew Carpenter, was killed in action during his second tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2011. Carpenter’s wife was pregnant with their first child at the time. McCreery explained that his connection to the story helped shape the way he viewed the song and its message about making sure a fallen service member’s life would not be forgotten.

Another emotional song on the way

At the time of the Memorial Day performance, McCreery was also preparing to promote another deeply personal song, “Five More Minutes.”

The song draws on the final moments of his grandfather’s life and would become another emotional entry in McCreery’s catalog. He was scheduled to perform the new single on the FOX & Friends All-American Concert Series on June 2, 2017.

McCreery’s appearance at the National Memorial Day Concert ultimately gave “The Dash” a setting that matched its central message: remembering the people behind the names and dates, and honoring the lives represented by the space between them.

Watch Scotty McCreery perform “The Dash” at the 2017 National Memorial Day Concert: