The Price of Peace: Press

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The lights go down, and in a matter of minutes the movie will start. But first, a music video appears and suddenly the audience is listening to two singing teenagers who may become hometown legends.

Following in the footsteps of popular music acts such as Kid Rock and 3 Doors Down are Cassy and Alyssa Gaddis of Springfield. Kid Rock and 3 Doors Down both recorded music and filmed performances for the Army National Guard. Now, the two local girls have become the new faces of the National Guard music campaign.

In May 2008, Alyssa Gaddis, 13, a student at Springfield Christian School, wrote the song “The Price of Peace,” a military inspired song where Alyssa speaks of the love and support for soldiers in the military and their deployment.

“Well, my dad (Jim, who serves in the Illinois Army National Guard) has been in the military our whole life. We are military kids and born on military bases. We have lived the life of our dad being gone and I wanted that to come alive through the song,” Alyssa said.

Since then Alyssa and Cassy, a 16-year-old who will be a senior this fall at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, have been working hard to fulfill their dreams for the song. And on Saturday, a music video of the song premiered in movie theaters nationwide, including in Springfield.

“We knew this song was bigger than us. The whole point of the song was to reach out to everyone and allow the world to know not only are our soldiers fighting a war, but so are the military families,” Cassy said.

With big hopes for the song, the Gaddis sisters said they were ecstatic when State Farm Insurance and the National Guard agreed to be their sponsors.

“Fate stepped in and my dad happened to be flying with the CEO of State Farm. He told (the CEO) about the song and then it all went up from there,” Cassy said.

Once the sponsors were set, the Gaddis sisters recorded “The Price of Peace” at the Creative Caffeine recording studio in Nashville, Tenn. The song was then released online in September 2008.

“Once the song was recorded we got it to some important people in D.C. and they called us to make the music video, which is now released online,” Cassy said.

Filmed in the Nashville area at several different locations, the music video production began. After a lot of hard work and four grueling days later, the Gaddis sisters’ first music video shoot was complete.

Alyssa and Cassy said that being on the set of their own music video was “fun and exciting” and they felt like superstars.

As the music video circulates on numerous Web sites, it also hits the big screen.

On May 22, just in time to commemorate Memorial Day, the Gaddis sisters’ video debuted in movie theaters across the country. The video will be featured in seven states — Illinois, California, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, Georgia and Texas — and in Washington D.C. because these locations have the most soldiers who have been deployed.

Because of the military content in the video, however, it will be shown only before films with a PG-13 and R rating.

The video tells the story of a young girl and the emotions she goes through with her family when her father leaves to go to war.

Through the song’s lyrics and music video’s footage, the Gaddis sisters’ message is told loud and clear.

“We got to sing ‘The Price of Peace’ in Nashville for about 1,300 soldiers. That was probably our favorite experience because there was not a dry eye in the house. It touched these men and women so much and we couldn’t believe the impact it had,” Cassy said.

“The Price of Peace” is impacting not just soldiers and families, but the state of Illinois.

“The Price of Peace” single, along with T-shirts, are available for purchase at www.thepriceofpeace.org. Profits made from these items will be donated to the Illinois Family Readiness groups and local Veterans of Foreign Wars posts for families in need.

The Gaddis sisters will dedicate their summer to promoting the song through more charitable and singing events.

On June 6, in Decatur, the Gaddis sisters will use their voices to help raise money for soldiers who have been wounded. They are also scheduled to appear at the Pentagon and their sponsors are working on scheduling a White House appearance.

Cassy and Alyssa last weekend sang at the G.I. Film Festival in Washington D.C., which is a five-day event showcasing films about the military.

“The G.I. Film Festival gave us the great opportunity of meeting some huge faces of Hollywood filmmakers. We also got to sing the song and show the video, which is always exciting to see people’s reaction as they see it for the first time,” Cassy said.

“Our hopes for the song is that people would realize what it’s truly like for a little girl and her family to go through,” Alyssa said.

On the big screen
The video for the song “The Price of Peace,” performed by Cassy and Alyssa Gaddis of Springfield, will be seen through June 11 before films rated PG-13 or R shown at Springfield’s Parkway Pointe 8 and Showplace 8 movie theaters.

On the Web
To see Cassy and Alyssa Gaddis’ music video and to learn more about their story, check out these following Web sites.
* http://gaddisgirls.com
* http://thepriceofpeace.org
* www.nationalguard.com/priceofpeace
* www.myspace.com/cassyandalyssa

GX HERO Story and Photos by Christian Anderson

Twelve-year-old Alyssa Gaddis and her 16-year-old sister
Cassy Gaddis, of Springfield, IL, know this firsthand.
They’ve been to many such events because their father,
CW5 Jim Gaddis, is the command chief warrant offi cer
of the Illinois Army National Guard. They’ve felt the
power of families being torn apart.
These experiences inspired Alyssa to write a song—a
song to lift the spirits of those enduring deployment, a song to inspire
courage and hope. Alyssa titled her song, “The Price of Peace.”
Thinking positive
“I went to a deployment ceremony where kids were clutching to
their dad’s neck crying,” Alyssa recalls, “and it just broke my heart.
[Cassy and I] have it so easy right now with our dad at home. There are
dads out there [with] loved ones going off to war.”
Cassy agreed, adding, “That particular ceremony was probably the
saddest one I have ever been to because there were so many families
there. I think that some people don’t really understand because they
haven’t seen it with their own eyes.”
When Alyssa started writing her song, she knew there were other
songs out there with similar themes. But many of them had sad endings.
She wanted hers to be unique—by being positive. She wanted it to
have a happy ending.
Cassy had the same idea. “I think that a lot of people want to focus on
the negative,” she shared. “And [it’s] there … but I always think there’s a
silver lining to everything.”
Alyssa felt her original point of view could make the song stand out.
“I wanted to write it from a girl’s perspective—‘My dad’s going off to
war,’ ” she explained. “There aren’t any songs about younger kids with
dads going off to war.
“Hopefully this song will allow people to focus on the good. [Yes], it is
hard when he’s gone, but he is coming home.”
Love for the Soldier
The Gaddis girls’ compassion extends beyond the families to the
deploying Soldiers.
“I defi nitely respect [them] for their courage and strength, and their
sacrifi ce,” Cassy stated. “I think in today’s society, especially now, people
just want the war to end so much that they kind of forget what these
Soldiers and their families face.
“I know what they go through. Their sacrifice for us is just jawdropping.
[While] we sit here, they are over there training and fi ghting
to help us. I think self-sacrifi ce is the defi nition of … a Soldier.”
State Farm was there
Alyssa’s craft ing of the tune was only the beginning of this project.
The next question was how to get it “out there.”
Enter an unexpected ally—State Farm Insurance. Its Adopt-a-Soldier
program was created to thank and support deployed troops by sending
them care packages and has received national accolades. State Farm
was also recently awarded the highest employer honor bestowed by the
Department of Defense—the Freedom Award—for recognition of its
support of employees serving in the Guard and Reserves.
Jim Gaddis ran into a State Farm rep at a Family Readiness meeting
in Springfi eld and told the rep about his daughters’ song. The two
discussed the possibilities, and State Farm off ered to help pay for the
recording studio time in Nashville, TN.
The Gaddis family also set up the Web site ThePriceofPeace.
org, which promotes and sells downloads of the song. Profi ts from
the song will be going to Illinois’ Family Readiness Groups and
local VFWs.
“This is another effort to raise money for the Illinois Family
Readiness groups, so they can support the troops,” said Bill Hrabik,
President–Military Affi nity Group at State Farm. “The goal is to raise
money for the group, and awareness of the separation issues of deploying
Soldiers and their families.”
The man with the plan
People often make the mistake of assuming it is not that hard to
record a song.
Well, it entails a little bit more than just singing into a microphone.
You need producers to handle the project. They have to know
the ins and outs of music. And they have to be passionate about
achieving top quality.
Hart Steen fi t that bill for the Gaddis girls. A young musician in
Nashville, Steen’s love of music radiates from him. A chance meeting
hooked him up with the Gaddis girls. Jim and his wife Annette
were visiting Nashville and went to the Commodore, a popular music
venue. Steen happened to be onstage and the Gaddis’ took a liking to
ecording studio.
his music. Aft er the show, the three talked about Alyssa’s song, and
Steen liked the concept.
Steen and the Gaddis’ kept in touch, and shared ideas. Aft er much
discussion, the girls were on their way to Nashville to record their song
with Steen as their producer.
“They have been awesome,” Steen declared. “[I]t’s been a joy to have
them in my life.”
Steen has his own investment in the concept of this song. A few
years ago, his younger brother enlisted in the Air Force. Steen took
notice of his brother’s transformation during an emotional graduation
at Lackland AFB in Texas. “It was very powerful,” Steen recalled.
“He had changed into a man.”
Trip to Music City
So the Gaddis family packed their bags and hit the road, aiming for
the global hub of country music.
Cassy and Alyssa were ecstatic to be able to go, not because they got
out of school for a few days, but because they were going to a place that
is rich in musical history. For nearly half a century, countless country
artists have traveled to “Music City” to see if they have what it takes.
“When I got there, I thought about how amazing it was to be doing
this,” Alyssa said, smiling. “I felt proud.”
Being in the big leagues, so to speak, made the girls step up their
game. Working with professionals in a recording studio was a big step
forward. But the girls adjusted.
It was an especially powerful experience for Alyssa—barely in 7th
grade.
“Her maturity just skyrocketed when we were in Nashville,” Cassy
revealed. “The fact that she wrote the song and took on all this responsibility—
it made me really open my eyes. It made me look up to her. Even
though she is my little sister.”
The girls took their time behind the mic to let loose and give it their
all. With so much riding on their shoulders, this was no time to goof off .
They worked hard—but enjoyed every minute.
“It was a really good experience. It was amazing—and surreal,”
Alyssa shared. “I have never really done that before. I have gone

have fun during their recording
session in Nashville, TN.
to studios locally in Springfield, but this was different. I felt like I
was a superstar.”
“My wife and I are so proud of Alyssa and Cassy for what they have
done to support the deploying Soldiers' families,” Jim declared. “They
genuinely care and want to make a diff erence in these people's lives.”
The waiting is the hardest part
Returning home from Nashville, the girls left their song—and
trust—with Steen. The process of mixing and editing music can take a
long time, and the girls tried to be patient.
Aft er anxiously waiting for several weeks, the fi nished piece was
fi nally delivered, and the Gaddis family gathered at their Springfi eld
home to listen.
“When we heard the rough version, it brought tears to my mom’s
eyes,” Alyssa marveled. “It’s amazing knowing that Cassy and I did that
together.”
Looking back on the experience, Alyssa shares, “People think that
singers have it easy. They think all they have to do is sing. The day aft er
the recording, I wanted to pull my hair out.”
But that was only the beginning. “Now we get to do the really fun
part of the process—send the message,” Cassy shared. “To me, that’s the
most important part—talking to people and hopefully inspiring them
the way [we’ve been inspired].”
Reaching out
The Gaddis’ are invested in the success of the song not because of the
chance to make it big but to help others.
“Hopefully, it will touch people deeply,” Cassy said.
And, Alyssa adds, “It’s for a good cause. All of the money made off of
this is [being donated] to the military families.”
It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. In the same
way, a deployment is worth a thousand emotions. Maybe “The Price of
Peace” will be worth a thousand smiles. GX
“__
“Hopefully, it will touch people deeply,” Cassy said.
And, Alyssa adds, “It’s for a good cause. All of the money made off of
this is [being donated] to the military families.”
It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. In the same
way, a deployment is worth a thousand emotions. Maybe “The Price of
Peace” will be worth a thousand smiles. GX

PATRIOTIC SONG PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE SACRIFICES OF SOLDIERS’ FAMILIES
Local teenager writes moving tribute to military families


NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The success of a Soldier depends on their physical and mental fortitude and strength. The family of a Soldier has to be just as strong. A local teen’s song about a military family’s sacrifice for its Soldier has caught the ears of music producers in Nashville, Tenn., and will be released in the near future to raise funds for Soldier support groups.
“Music goes to the heart,” said Alyssa Gaddis, the 12-year-old singer / songwriter from Springfield. “Families have to stay strong for the Soldiers and I think this song shows what emotions families go through.”
Alyssa isn’t alone in her appreciation of the military and lending her voice to this cause. Cassy Gaddis, Alyssa’s older sister, has performed with her sister for the last five years. They both have a common bond with the military as their father is a member of the Illinois Army National Guard, Command Chief Warrant Officer (5) Jim Gaddis.
“We have been really lucky that our dad has not been deployed, but we see families at ceremonies that affect us,” said Cassy, a 16-year-old student at Sacred Heart Griffin High School in Springfield.
Alyssa wrote the song as a tribute to the sacrifices the military families make and the emotions they experience as they see their Soldier leave and then return from deployment.
“The title of the song, ‘The Price of Peace’ really says it all,” said Alyssa. “It really tells the tale of a girl saying goodbye to her dad and realizing what it all means and waiting for the time when he returns.”
The family tribute song could not have been possible without the support and sponsorship of the recording by State Farm Insurance Companies. Through meetings with the Employee Support of Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and military contacts, State Farm Insurance was presented the family tribute song concept and eagerly provided support. State Farm Insurance Companies was recently recognized nationally as a military friendly employer and supporter of the Guard and Reserve in September.
The Gaddis family traveled to Nashville in September to record the voice tracks for the song at the Creative Caffeine recording studio.
Hart Steen, music producer and singer / songwriter, coordinated the recording efforts and production of this project.
“I met the girls’ parents downtown (Nashville) on a songwriting night and they contacted me afterwards with some ideas, sent me an email and we went from there,” said Steen, a Nashville resident. “I thought it was a really great idea. In country music you hear a lot of patriotic songs, but no one writes from the perspective of a young girl, to the family. That was what really appealed to me.”
Steen’s brother is in the U.S. Air Force which allowed him to bring a stronger connection to the song.
“When I saw my younger brother at basic training graduation, he was more than just a brother; he became both a brother and a friend,” remembered Steen teary-eyed. “He was not younger, not older…it was just respect. It has been a huge plus for my family.
My brother went overseas and it was a huge thing to let him go and have him be gone. I don’t know if I would give that up because of what I felt when he came back home,” he said.
Although this is not the first formal production of a song by Cassy and Alyssa, Steen believes it has great potential to highlight the strength of family support of Soldiers.
“I think it’s going to be awesome,” said Steen. “I don’t believe it is a song’s job to sell itself. The message is going to make the people really enjoy it.”
Over the next few weeks the song will be mixed and engineered to complete the recording process and then will be made available for downloadable purchase online at www.thepriceofpeace.org. All proceeds will be given to Family Readiness Groups (FRGs) by distribution from a local VFW.
The FRG is the target benefactor because it is a source of support, information, and assistance to the Soldiers and their families and is made up of caring people who work together to provide accurate information pertaining to their unit or organization and provide support.
The FRG is not just family members working together, but also Soldiers, community representatives, and the unit’s chain of command. Each of these groups benefit from the FRG.
“There’s a bigger reason for all of this,” shared Alyssa. “Music should touch people and I only hope this keeps on going and going. The families need that support.”

“For a girl to say goodbye to her daddy’s smile is rough — can’t cover it up.”

That’s one of the lines in a song written by 12-year-old Alyssa Gaddis of Springfield after hearing her father talk about deployment ceremonies for National Guard troops being sent overseas to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Alyssa’s father, Chief Warrant Officer Jim Gaddis, isn’t being deployed, but after hearing the stories and witnessing a ceremony firsthand, the Springfield Christian School seventh-grader sat down and composed the lyrics to “The Price of Peace,” a song about a girl saying goodbye to her father as he prepares for war.

“It’s very sad, seeing the little girls clutch to their dad’s neck and cry,” Alyssa said Monday of the deployment event she witnessed. “That was hard to just watch, knowing that they are leaving and they are not going to come back for a long time.”

Alyssa’s song got the attention of a music producer, and last month, she found herself in a Nashville, Tenn., studio recording the song she wrote. “Price of Peace” is now available online, and proceeds will be given to military family readiness groups who have loved ones who are deployed.

Alyssa said she is glad to do something to help the families of service men and women.

“There are no songs out there about girls and their perspective of their dads going to war. I really just wanted to write a song about it,” she said.

Jim Gaddis works full time for the Illinois Army National Guard. He hasn’t been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.

After his daughter wrote the song, he had a chance encounter with a State Farm executive.

Gaddis told the man about the song, and the Bloomington-based insurance company agreed to cover the cost of the trip to Nashville and the recording of the song.

Hart Steen, a music producer and singer/songwriter, polished the lyrics and wrote the music.

Singing with Alyssa on the song is her sister, Cassy Gaddis, a 16-year-old Sacred Heart-Griffin High School student. Cassy sang harmony, and Alyssa said she appreciated the help.

“She’s like my little buddy,” Alyssa said.

During the recording, Alyssa got to see firsthand how songs are recorded. She spent nearly two hours in the recording booth singing different sections of the song.

“By the end of the day, I wanted to pull my hair out,” she said. “It’s a long process that’s harder than it looks. It’s very, very tough. But it was worth it. It was a good experience.”

Now that the song is recorded and available for download, Alyssa hopes it will help families who are having to wait for the return of a loved one.

“The days go by fast for the soldiers, but for the families, they go by slow,” Alyssa said.

John Reynolds can be reached at 788-1524.