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Vince Speranza and a Living Connection to the Song
One of the people strongly associated with the song in modern times was World War II veteran Vince Speranza.
Speranza served as a paratrooper and became well known for sharing his wartime experiences and performing “Blood on the Risers.” According to Military.com, he developed additional verses and used the song as part of his storytelling about the airborne tradition. (Military.com)
That helped preserve something important about the song.
It wasn't merely an old set of lyrics found in a history book.
It remained something that veterans could actually perform, remember and pass along.
And that's an important distinction.
Folk songs survive because people sing them.
“Blood on the Risers” survived because people kept singing it.
