Fort Kent girl to sing at VFW session in Fla.

FORT KENT – Film star James Cagney made “I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy” famous, but come Tuesday, 4,000 to 5,000 veterans gathered in Orlando, Fla., will connect the song with a 13-year-old girl from Maine.

Melanie Saucier, an eighth-grader on the high honor roll at Fort Kent Elementary School, will perform the old favorite during the 2008 Patriotic Rally at 4:30 p.m. at the 109th Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention at the Orange County Convention Center.

Also on her song list will be “a medley of all the different songs of the military,” she said Wednesday by telephone during a break from classes in Fort Kent. “That has to be my favorite song. It’s definitely the most energetic.

“The best part is when I call out the branch they served in, and the veterans stand up and cheer – it’s amazing to see,” Melanie said.

The medley is capped off with “Stand Up for the Veterans of America,” a new song written for her by music producer-composer Harry King of Texas.

The Fort Kent girl, who is pictured on the VFW Web site at www.vfw.org/convention109/patrioticrally.pdf, has been singing for years. She celebrated her 6th birthday by singing the National Anthem in French and English for the Maine Senate and House of Representatives in Augusta. She also was invited to sing at Gov. John Baldacci’s inauguration.

She recorded her first CD, “Crossing Borders,” at age 10, and has a patriotic CD coming out shortly. She also has earned honors at regional and provincial competitions in Quebec and New Brunswick.

Melanie has been singing at state VFW conventions in Maine for a couple of years, said her dad, Gary Saucier, and the VFW is special to her for several reasons.

Her father is a Vietnam veteran and commander of VFW Post 9609 in Fort Kent. She also won the VFW State Patriot’s Pen contest this year for a patriotic essay.

The New Hampshire VFW has had her sing for its state convention, where she came to the attention of incoming national Commander George Lisicki of New Jersey.

Lisicki invited Melanie to perform at his homecoming event after being elected as the national leader, and then chose the youngster to be featured at the national convention.

Melanie loves to sing for veterans, said her mom, Diane Nadeau-Saucier, who is the organist at St. Louis Catholic Church in Fort Kent, where Melanie is a song leader. The youngster performed in Old Town last week, bringing tears to the eyes of at least one veteran.

“It’s an honor to sing for the veterans,” Melanie said, “because of what they’ve done for our country. I find it just extremely important because it’s a way to honor them – to provide them music and make them happy.”

Her repertoire on Aug. 19 also will include the popular Lee Greenwood song “God Bless the USA,” as well as a duet with her father on “God Bless America.”

The Saucier family will spend about a week in Orlando, Melanie’s father said, so that they can take Melanie to Disney World and other attractions.

Then it’s home to Fort Kent, where school for the 13-year-old is already in session.

The girl also plays piano and saxophone, but singing is her love. She hopes to be an opera singer.