Former soldier performs poignant tribute to The Fallen at Penshaw Monument
Penshaw Monument and Seaham coastline features in the poignant tribute.
A former soldier who draws on his personal experience of global conflict has created a moving tribute to The Fallen.
Joe McMillan served for 24 years in the Light Infantry and The Rifles, reaching the appointment of Regimental Serjeant Major, with operational tours including Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone and Iraq.
During that time, he would often sing for his mates in the back of a truck or on the table in the ‘Naffy.’
After performing in his local pub, The Mallard in Seaham, four years ago, and getting a great reception, the army veteran turned his passion into a part-time job, performing at pubs, care homes and more under his stage name of SoldierMac.
Last year, Joe, who is from Hartlepool but lives in Seaham, went viral performing a moving rendition of He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother with pupils from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Murton at the Tommy sculpture in Seaham.
To mark this year’s month of Remembrance, he’s created another poignant tribute, which was filmed at Penshaw Monument and along the Seaham coastline.
It features Joe’s own version of The Sound of Silence, inspired by Henk Poort's powerful interpretation of Disturbed's arrangement.
Speaking about the meaning behind the song choice, Joe said: “For me, silence can mean many different things.
“It's the silence left by those who never returned from war — the voices and conversations that families and comrades will never hear again.
“It's the silence experienced by families who have lost someone they love.
“It's standing at a grave with so much you wish you could say, knowing there will be no answer.
“It's the silence we observe together in November, including the two-minute silence and the solemn moments surrounding the Last Post.
“And it's also the silence carried by veterans who have experienced conflict, including memories and experiences that can be difficult to put into words.”