Real-life love story: Video featuring Oak Ridge Boys' Joe Bonsall passes 1 million mark on YouTube

October 25, 1:06 PMNashville Country Music ExaminerLisa L. Rollins

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 The Oak Ridge Boys' Joe Bonsall's penned a book
 remembering the love of the singer's late parents,
 Joe Sr. and Lillie Bonsall. (Photo: New Leaf Press)
 

A music video of The Oak Ridge Boys' performance of "G. I. Joe and Lillie," a clip that features Joe Bonsall, songwriter and author of a book by the same name, has surpassed the million mark in YouTube views, with no real signs of waning.

Bonsall penned the touching tune about his parents and it was included on The Oak Ridge Boys' Colors CD, which was released by Spring Hill Music Group in 2003. The singer's book by the same name  is now in its eighth printing with New Leaf Press and was released the same year. To date, it's sold more than 115,000 copies.

“If my mom only knew that young soldiers of today are reading her story or hearing her song, it would make her very, very happy,” shares Bonsall. “She loved every one of them with all her heart. I pray that somehow our Lord will let her know about how she and Daddy are still touching so many lives.”

The story of Joe Sr. and Lillie's story is one of patriotism, bravery abroad and at home, and most of all, deep commitment. It represents the very essence of America through its tribute to all World War II veterans and their families, reminding all that true love never, ever dies.

The Oaks' lead singer wrote the song while his parents were still alive, but the book that details their story, G. I. Joe and Lillie: Remembering a Life of Love and Loyalty, was authored after their respective passings.

Regarding the video's leap in online popularity, Bonsall says, “Something incredible happened about a month ago when many military Web sites discovered the video and began to embed the link into their homepages, citing it as an example of patriotism and inspiration. The whole thing blows me away.”

Consequently, thanks to the adoption of the music clip, with its vintage black-and-white memories of Bonsall's parents, by military Web sites, people throughout the world are e-mailing the video link to friends and co-workers. Thus, the humble story of Joe Sr. and Lillie is one that many are now watching.

“I am so deeply moved and humbled by it,” Bonsall shared. “It is hard to find the words.”