Who is Britt Small?

Britt's Celebration of Life, Skidmore, MO September 7, 2019

Britt Small is a true American Patriot, and an American paratrooper, who served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, in Vietnam. He is also a disabled veteran, and his music is the “sound track” of the American veteran’s life. For 28 years, he traveled the United States & Canada, with his 12-piece band, FESTIVAL, entertaining audiences of all ages with their special brand of American patriotic music. In 1982, BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL played at the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, The Wall, in Washington, D.C. They returned to Washington, DC, in 1984, to perform at the dedication of the Three Fighting Men Statue, which today has become known as the "Forrest Gump" concert, due to the fact that BRITT brought Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, Sammy L. Davis, the real Forrest Gump, on stage to deliver his "Freedom Now" speech to the American public. In 1993, BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL were summon back to D.C. to perform at the dedication of the Vietnam Women's Memorial, and then again in 1995, for the dedication of the Korean War Memorial. They are the only group to be allowed to stand on top of The Wall, and sing during National Veterans Day ceremonies, and they performed over 45 concerts at the Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial. In their 28 years together, they released 18 albums, and traveled over two million miles in their 1954 Greyhound Scenicruiser bus, performing from coast to coast, and border to border. Go to the "history" page; the pictures will tell the story. BRITT SMALL is still traveling the country, backed by the digital tracks of FESTIVAL. His emotional performances are an experience you will never forget. Welcome to the world of BRITT SMALL.

Gaining respect for the American Flag at a tender young age, Britt cannot control himself when he sees a tattered American Flag flying. He has been known to go door to door, town by town, knocking on the doors of private residences and going into businesses, when he sees a tattered American Flag flying outside their door. He respectfully asks that the Flag be taken down and be replaced by a perfect American Flag, in honor of those who have fought and died for this country. If the resident is elderly, and/or just cannot afford a new Flag, and they just can't stand to have a bear flagpole at their house, then Britt will replace the tattered Flag with a new Flag. Britt carries new American Flags in his vehicle just for that purpose. Britt buys his Flags from the American Legion Flag & Emblem store. If you would like to donate to Britt's Flag fund, please use the "Donate" button below. It goes directly into a Flag fund.

Over the years, word went around the country about Britt Small and his tattered Flag issue. When he was performing in Los Angeles, Martha Raye had heard that Britt was in town. She sent an invitation to Britt to visit with her at her home. After their visit, Ms. Raye asked Britt to take down her tattered American Flag that was on her pole, and take it with him. For this reason, Britt was dubbed by Martha Raye as "The Tattered Flags Guy". Shortly after that visit, Martha Raye passed away, and was buried with full Military Honors in the Special Forces Cemetery at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Britt still has Martha Raye's last tattered Flag, her battle Flag, incased in a Flag display case, for him to look at while remembering Martha Raye as the great and true American Patriot that she was.

Graduating from Gainesville Senior High School, Gainesville, Florida, Britt attended Florida State University in Tallahassee, majoring in music education. After three years at FSU, Britt joined the United States Army serving 18 months as a Military Policeman with the 118th MP Co (Abn), at Ft. Bragg, NC. In 1970, he was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade in South Vietnam where he served as a Military Police Investigator with the 173rd MP Platoon at LZ English, and received the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.

Upon returning from his tour in Vietnam, Britt relocated to Northwest Missouri where he attended Northwest Missouri State University earning his Bachelor of Science Degree. plus 30 Master hours in Music Education. In 1973, Britt became a full-time professional entertainer, and in 1997 he returned to NWMSU, receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mass Communications.

November 1982, Britt's band took him for his first visit to The Wall in Washington, D.C., only to find tense emotions and anger throughout the thick crowd. Knowing he could be arrested for demonstrating, Britt, followed by FESTIVAL, made their way through the angered crowd to the apex of The Wall, and began singing “America The Beautiful” and “Amazing Grace”. Sedating the anger through song, Britt turned the event into a positive and healing dedication of honor. Born from this action, was Britt’s original and nationally known award winning hit song and music video “The Wall”.

Since his involvement in the veterans’ movement, Britt has been an unfailing advocate of all veteran issues including, POW/MIA, Agent Orange, PTSD, homeless, hospitalized and incarcerated veterans. Britt has served as Vice-Chairman of the National Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans Coalition, on the Board of Advisors for BRAVO, and is a Life member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, the Military Order of Purple Heart, the Midwest Chapter of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and several organizations such as AmVets, VietNow, and VVA.

As part of his continued dedication to the use of music as an artistic and educational expression, BRITT SMALL was inducted into the Missouri Music Hall of Fame, class of 2012, the South Dakota Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, class of 2018, and the Iowa Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame, class of 2018.

Britt has been recognized with proclamations from the United States Congress, Missouri House of Representatives, Commonwealth of Massachusetts House of Representatives, Ohio House of Representatives, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania House of Representatives, for his heartfelt devotion to veterans and their issues. Britt is also a Kentucky Colonel and a Chief Admiral of the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska. He has also received two Vietnam Veterans National Medal, along with countless awards from veterans’ organization and the "Key to the City" of several cities across the country. Due to Britt’s display of showmanship, leadership, and love of his Country and fellow veterans, he has become known as the “Musical voice of America’s Veterans”.

BRITT SMALL then.............and now.