In 2001, shortly after the 9/11 attacks, Rice was asked to write an original Christmas song for Mandy Moore to perform at TNT's Christmas In Washington, a televised concert for the President and First Lady. Rice performed with Moore to a visibly touched audience. Though initially written with 9/11 survivors in mind, the song has since become increasingly relevant and even more meaningful as the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars continue, leaving hundreds of thousands of family members without their loved ones for the holidays.

When asked about the inspiration for creating the video, Rice replied, "I sat with a woman and her three-year-old son on a flight earlier this year and learned they were on there way to meet their soldier in Germany, on his two week leave from Iraq. This soldier hadn't seen his wife and son in an entire year. It was a moment of realization for me - my heart broke - I have a son the same age and I can't even imagine being separated like that. It was the first time I stopped to really think about what troops and their families have to endure."

Inspired by this encounter and at the urging of his family, Rice has revived the song this year, composing a haunting and poignant new recording and creating a video with images of military families and their personal messages to their soldiers. "I've been incredibly moved and humbled by the emails and pictures I've received. Some of these kids have never spent Christmas with their Dad and tragically some never will. My hope is that this song and video will help cause ordinary people this holiday season to pause between shopping trips and realize that these are real human beings - sons, daughters, wives, mothers, fathers, and neighbors - who are suffering."

Rice will be releasing a new album, Eighty Miles to Stand Up in early 2008. More information at http://www.davidericemusic.com