President Donald Trump sent a personal letter of condolences to the wife of Charlie Daniels. Addressed to Hazel, the President shared a touching tribute to the Country Music Hall of Fame member, which was shared on social media.
“I was saddened to learn of the loss of your beloved husband, Charlie, and send my deepest condolences,” the letter began. “Charlie will forever be remembered as a true American patriot, and his contributions to country music will be celebrated for generations. He inspired many Americans with his unyielding support of our brave men and women in uniform. Your husband reminded us that we must honor those who have sacrificed so much to defend our freedoms. Our great Nation depends on artists like Charlie who promote love of country. He will be greatly missed.
“During this difficult time, the First Lady and I send our prayers to you, your family, and all who loved Charlie,” he concluded. “May his music continue to reverberate in the hearts of countless Americans.”
Charlie passed away on July 6, after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke. He was given the Patriots Honor Walk as his body was escorted out of the hospital to be taken to the funeral home after his death.
“The Patriots Honor Walk is military-themed, and it is the civilian equivalent to the military Honor Walk as the hospital staff lines the hallways as the recently deceased is taken out of the doors,” Charlie’s son, Charlie Daniels, Jr. recounted in a post on the Charlie Daniels Band’s website. “I wanted to stress to the hospital staff, that although dad loved our military, he did not serve. I asked dad about that a number of years ago when some online trolls had called him a draft dodger. The truth of the matter is that he failed his physical due to his poor eyesight when he got his number called.
“Dad wore thick glasses when I was a child – which he attributed to a high fever when he had at an early age – and contact lenses on stage when he performed until Dr. Ming Wang was able to perform LASIK and corneal implants in 2013,” he added. “He wasn’t able to have the operation sooner because he also had astigmatism, and Dr. Wang kept advising him to wait until the procedure was perfected. So, that being said, I wanted to let the staff know that information, and they said the Patriots Honor Walk is similar, but for people who were passionate supporters of our country, and our military. One of the nurses on staff who served in the Navy brought an American flag and she draped it over my dad’s body, and the hospital chaplain handed out cards with a beautiful prayer he had written for us.”
Following his death, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” became a No. 1 hit on iTunes.