Tim Maggart to attend AGSM's 88th National Convention

​My name is Tim Maggart

..... and I’m an Army Trained Physical Therapist. I joined the Army as a Private and exited 10 years later as a Captain with a degree in Physical Therapy from Baylor University. I have been practicing Physical Therapy in the Fort Benning community in the Home Heath setting for several years, which means that I am daily in the homes of highly decorated war veterans and their widows. Every part of my career as a songwriter has been impacted by my career as a Physical Therapist. As a soldier, I wasn’t asked to go to combat, but I have been honored to treat many who were, as well as their families. With this experience and inspiration, I have devoted my singer songwriter gifts and talents to honoring their memory and service.

​One Veterans Day, I was reflecting on my family lineage of men who have served our country. Every generation of men in my family have served in the US Army. In fact, I have my great great great Grandfather’s discharge papers from the US Army in 1864 hanging in my home. Stemming from those Veterans Day thoughts, I wrote a song with my friend Jon D’Agostino entitled “A Link In The Chain Of Freedom.” This song celebrates generational service, and we partnered with the National Infantry Museum to film a music video for the track. For several years they played the video on their IMax for all  basic trainees that came through Ft Benning and we reached over a half million YouTube views.

​I then discovered the Veteran service organization House of Heroes, who provide minor home repairs for Veterans and their widows, which being a home health physical therapist, I saw the need for daily as many of my Veterans had reached the point of being unable to even screw a light bulb or make any form of home repair. I ended up writing their song, "House of Heroes" with friend and hit songwriter Joe Beck, and had the opportunity to play that song for many events and in the yards of Veterans who they were honoring.

​One such event, Senator Richard Blumenthal attended and when he heard me play the song, he asked that I send him the lyric. Senator Blumenthal then wrote the account of his experience being with House of Heroes and hearing me sing the song and he submitted what he wrote to the congressional record.

While in Arizona at a House of Heroes event, I performed at Toby Keith‘s Bar and Grill and there was a Blue Star mother in the audience who approached me to ask if I would consider writing a song for the Blue Star Mothers of America. This was during the time when my son was deployed to the Middle East with his Army unit, so I resonated with their mission. I wrote the song “A Piece Of Home” with my friend Jon D’Agostino, and it was good enough to record.

​I sent the song to the President of the Blue Star Mothers of America, Pat Soler, who loved it and invited me to come perform at the Marine Club in San Francisco for their national convention, which was a true honor for me. They subsequently invited me to perform at three more of their national conventions and they will always have a deep part of mine and my wife Kathy‘s heart.

At my most recent performance for the Blue Star Mothers of America national convention in Nashville, I had the privilege of meeting the future president of the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. organization Patti Elliott, and she told me that she would love for me to do a keynote concert for her convention when she was President.

In preparation for that event this summer, I wanted to write an original song and called my good friend and co-writer Bill Diluigi to write the song with me. I can honestly say that we approached this writing session with great honor and reverence and to me, the writing session was a sacred experience.

​When we completed the song, I sent the lyric to Patti Elliott to get her opinion, and I am deeply honored that she loved the lyric, which gave me the green light to go ahead and record "Heart Of A Gold Star.” I then approached my friend and President of my local chapter of Military Officers Association of America, COL Biff Hadden, to inquire if they may be interested sponsoring part of the cost of the recording of the song. COL Hadden didn’t hesitate to offer their support.

​On the way home from my recording session for Nashville, I sent the track to Patti, and when she replied, I had to pull over for a little tear session together, as once again, I cannot emphasize enough how deeply honored and thrilled I am that she loves the song.

As I prepare for performing a keynote concert at the American Gold Star Mothers National Convention this summer, it will truly be an honor of a lifetime to be able to perform for these incredible women. I sincerely hope that as the song is released to the world on June 21 that the memory of every child who has made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our nation will be honored and remembered and the world will become more aware that behind every name of the fallen there is a grieving mother, father, family and friends. I wholeheartedly support the mission of the American Gold Star Mothers as they find “strength in the fellowship of other Gold Star Mothers who strive to keep the memories of their sons and daughters alive by working to help Veterans, those currently serving in the military, their families, and their communities”.