My father almost became a World War II casualty, but on a London bus. Two drunken GI’s where harassing a young British woman, who was visibly terrified. When Dad intervened, the two got out of their seats and got nose-to-nose with him.

My father, who weighed maybe 140 lbs after two Thanksgiving dinners, closed his eyes and prepared to die for his country. When a moment passed with no discernible personal destruction, he opened them again and the drunks were seated and staring intently out the window, as if bombed-out London was the most beautiful and arresting scene they’d ever encountered.

Dad turned around and there were four sunburned Aussie veterans standing behind him.

“Should you need anything else, Leftenant,” their sergeant smiled, “we’ll be right here.”

The popular orchestra leader Andre Rieu, from Holland, might be a little schmaltzy, but I love him anyway because where he goes, he pays tribute to the nation hosting his orchestra. In this case, Rieu’s emotions are heartfelt. Look at the tears in his eyes, and at the beautiful mother and daughter singing together. Chills.

Since Australia was once a penal colony, there are a lot of people whose ancestors came from Ireland. This song, by the late Dolores O’Riordan and The Cranberries, is a terrible evocation of The Troubles.

And here are Australians—some of them maybe Irish, others definitely Maori, paying tribute to O’Riordan’s song. Aussies may have saved my Dad’s life. Dolores Mary Eileen O’Riordan died in a London hotel in 2018. She still lives in Brisbane, in the voices of these Aussies.