The family of Specialist David Mahlenbrock, a 20-year-old combat engineer who was killed in Iraq last Friday when a roadside bomb detonated, has a special request.

They are asking radio music stations to play Toby Keith’s “American Soldier” on Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 1pm, in memory of Mahlenbrock, who will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on that date/time.

According to military blogger Blackfive, Mahlenbrock wrote a letter before his death requesting that Keith’s song be played at his funeral in case he was killed in the line of duty. More details here and a link to radio stations here.

It would also be nice for both national and local radio talk show hosts who broadcast during the 1pm to take time out to salute a fallen soldier. Please get on their case!

-Wednesday, Dec. 15, 1pm
-Please play Toby Keith’s “American Soldier” in memory of Specialist David Mahlenbrock. He leaves behind a wife and infant daughter.

Update: A radio listener has some helpful advice…

Because many radio stations will have news at the start of the hour, usually network news which they may not be able to shift, they may not take part if they cannot do so at the appointed time. Participation rates would probably be much higher if the time were not right on the hour – perhaps at 12:45 Eastern when more people are listening on their car radios at lunch. A radio dial with almost nothing but the song at 12:45 would be more powerful than some stations playing it at 1, some at 1:10, 1:15, 1:30, and so on.

Good idea.