Thank You Ed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Big Bank Hank

From Facebook:
Valerie xxxxxxxxxx
The amazing story about GTF. I didn't explain this choice of song. Here is is :

Almost 5 years ago, Jan and I met through a contest Paul Mercs (the concert promoter) put up for winning tickets to a Canadian Pearl Jam show. I then wrote a story about a special song that is very meaningful. A few years before that I'd lost my beloved mother to a car accident and Pearl Jam's music helped me go through it, especially one song that forever made me think of her. This song was Given To Fly. Jan, who I didn't know then, voted for me because he was deeply touched by my story. And that's how we met & connected. Now to have this song dedicated to Jan and myself truly means a lot, beyond what words can ever say. Music is connecting people together.

Big Bank Hank

actually this was from an Rock Werchter Festival maybe 1990 or 1991, so Pearl Jam wasn't playing obviously, while Pearl Jam was his favorite band, he had so many bands and groups he loved to listen to, just a real music fan who I loved talking music with

Big Bank Hank

Here is the video of Eddie's speech and Given To Fly, this video is dedicated to Jan, Valerie and also Gabriele who lost her beloved Gordon (who passed away recently as well) and was at the concert with her 16 year old daughter who was at her first show, who started listening to Pearl Jam once her father passed away, and Gordon's only request was that Given To Fly was played at his funeral. This gets even crazier, they live right nearby each other and I have been able to get them in contact with each other, thank you Eddie so much for doing this, it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, just being able to help these two families out, and you made that possible, the power of music is amazing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDg0YkV_cuY&feature=youtu.be

mca47

Cool

Big Bank Hank

mca47 said:

Cool

QC was a magic night and helped two really great ladies with their healing process

cutz

Big Bank Hank said:

mca47 said:

Cool

QC was a magic night and helped two really great ladies with their healing process

Kool indeed.

Big Bank Hank

Here is the tattoo that Valerie got yesterday to commemorate that night, super awesome

Ray J. T.

Fucking Awesome. Amazing job by the band. No better band in the world that looks out for their fans, and show that they genuinely care. I really hope that the evening brought a little peace to Valerie, and helps her down her journey in life. My heart goes out to her and Jan's family.

Big Bank Hank

Ray J. T. said:

Fucking Awesome. Amazing job by the band. No better band in the world that looks out for their fans, and show that they genuinely care. I really hope that the evening brought a little peace to Valerie, and helps her down her journey in life. My heart goes out to her and Jan's family.

It has made such a huge difference, she's gone from hurting and just trying to cope, to inspired and living, but really that is kind of why we all love this band so much.

Ray J. T.

Big Bank Hank said:

Ray J. T. said:

Fucking Awesome. Amazing job by the band. No better band in the world that looks out for their fans, and show that they genuinely care. I really hope that the evening brought a little peace to Valerie, and helps her down her journey in life. My heart goes out to her and Jan's family.

It has made such a huge difference, she's gone from hurting and just trying to cope, to inspired and living, but really that is kind of why we all love this band so much.

Truer words were never written.

PorchgirlCO

Big Bank Hank said:

Here is the video of Eddie's speech and Given To Fly, this video is dedicated to Jan, Valerie and also Gabriele who lost her beloved Gordon (who passed away recently as well) and was at the concert with her 16 year old daughter who was at her first show, who started listening to Pearl Jam once her father passed away, and Gordon's only request was that Given To Fly was played at his funeral. This gets even crazier, they live right nearby each other and I have been able to get them in contact with each other, thank you Eddie so much for doing this, it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, just being able to help these two families out, and you made that possible, the power of music is amazing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDg0YkV_cuY&feature=youtu.be

Pass me the tissues, please...

PJForceofNature

I am so glad I was there to witness it all. What a special band to take the time to dedicate this song to those who are hurting. Please accept my condolences, and so glad the music is helping in the healing.