Why we play Taps at Military funerals....

[Highbinder]

I had this e-mailed to me, something I never new and I thought I'd pass it on...


I never knew.. DID  YOU?
 

If any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which taps was played; this brings out a new meaning of it.

 

 

Here is something Every American should know.

 

We in the United States   have all heard the haunting song, 'Taps...' It's the song that gives us the lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes.

 

 

 

But, do you know the story behind the song?  If not, I think you will be interested to find out about its humble beginnings. 

 

Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Elli was with his men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia . The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land.

 

 

 

During the night, Captain Elli heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a   Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment.. 

 

When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead. 

 

The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army. 

 

The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted.

 

The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral.

 

The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate. 

 

But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician.

 

 

 

The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform. 

This wish was granted. 

 

The haunting melody, we now know as 'Taps' used at military funerals was born. 

 

The words are:

 

Day is done.
Gone the sun.
From the lakes 
From the hills.   
From the sky.
All is well.   
Safely rest.   
God is nigh.

 

Fading light.
Dims the sight.
And a star.
Gems the sky.
Gleaming bright.   
From afar.   
Drawing nigh.   
Falls the night.

 

Thanks and praise.   
For our days.   
Neath the sun   
Neath the stars.   
Neath the sky
As we go.
This we know.   
God is nigh

 

 

I too have felt the chills while listening to 'Taps' but I have never seen all the words to the song until now. I didn't even know there was more than one verse.  I also never knew the story behind the song and I didn't know if you had either so I thought I'd pass it along. 

 

I now have an even deeper respect for the song than I did before. 

 

Remember Those Lost and Harmed While Serving Their Country.

 

 

 

Also Remember Those Who Have Served And Returned; and for those presently serving in the Armed Forces.

 

 

 

Please send this on after a short prayer.

 

Make this a Prayer wheel for our soldiers ... Please don't break it.   

 

I didn't!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

[solo1]

Great post, Don. Thank you for posting it.

I kinda thought that remembering all those we lost was old fashioned due to the response in the last few years..................

And then I found out differently due to the Honor Flights.............................................


Still, I wonder how many will even mention Memorial Day when they gather around the barbeque.

[Highbinder]

Wayne, I kinda felt the same way, this past year I had the honor of escorting the Vietnam Wall here in Va.  We traveled about 40 miles escorting the wall, somewhere around 400 motorcycles showed up.   The highways to Richlands, Va. were lined with people, carring flags, waving and cheering as we went by, girl scout troops and boy scout troops lined the streets and when we got to Richlands there were about 1000 folks there to honor the fallen...it takes a lot for me to get choked up, but I did that day...

[Devl]

Very cool.  Thanks Don, I didn't know either.

[Oss]

Thanks for giving us a heads up on that great history.

I had chills just reading about the father finding his son



All the best to you and Tracy my friends.

[Alpha Dog]

Tremendous piece of history.  Shall always remember this.  When the  American Legion Honor Guard gave 21 gun salute and played taps for my Father in Jan. 86 ( WW2 vet entire war ), well the tear ducts really opened.    Stirs my body every time I hear it for anyone.

[Chrisj CMA]

Good story telling but not true, sorry.

If we can trust Snopes there was no dead son and all that.  It was probably written by Brig Gen Daniel Butterfield during the civil war

http://www.west-point.org/taps/Taps.html

[Chrisj CMA]

Good story telling but not true, sorry.

If we can trust Snopes there was no dead son and all that.  It was probably written by Brig Gen Daniel Butterfield during the civil war

http://www.west-point.org/taps/Taps.html

I will still as have done ...pray for our troops.....that part will be unbroken

[Moonshot_1]

Don't have to Snopes this one


Back in 2007 I was the Emcee for the Wreaths Across America Ceremony at the Iowa Veteran's Home in Marshalltown, Iowa.  Dale Shankster, US Coast Guard, WWII  was the layer of the Coast Guard Wreath during the 2007 Wreaths Across America Ceremony. Our (Iowa PGR) very first one.

During that ceremony, while Taps was being played by our bugler, Dale began to sing. It took a brief moment for me to know he was singing Taps. I mean he was belting it out. Dale, if I recall, was 90+ years old at the time. It was for many of us, to say the least, quite an inspirational moment.

It was a tough act to follow. I stepped back up to the podium and explained to everyone what we just heard as I knew some wouldn't know exactly what Dale was doing. Explained that there were indeed words to the music.

The bugler had tears in his eyes as he knew what Dale was doing.

All this was unscripted.

After the Ceremony ended a crowd gathered around Dale as he was being asked about Taps and singing it.

He said that when they got back home they started an American Legion chapter and no one could play the bugle. So their Honor Guard sang Taps at the funerals.

Dale died in 2008, a few months after that Wreaths Across America ceremony in Marshalltown.

We have been singing the first verse of Taps along with the bugler every year since in Honor of Dale and our Veterans.

[MarkT]

Some might want to rent the movie Taking Chance.  Kevin Bacon plays a Lt Col. escorting the body of a fallen Marine home.  Well done. Poignant.

[hubcapsc]

Thanks for giving us a heads up on that great history.

I had chills just reading about the father finding his son

All the best to you and Tracy my friends.

Both of Wade Hampton's sons were shot down in his presence
at the Battle of Burgess' Mill. U.R. Brooks, who wrote Butler
and His Cavalry in the War of Secession (the history of
Butler's Brigade) was there too. He wrote:

--

I was making all the haste I could to get out of a fire which
was uncomfortably hot for one on horseback, several balls having
passed through my clothing, when I saw a staff officer, who
appeared to be riding to meet me, fall from his horse. I galloped
up to see who he was and to render assistance, when General
Hampton and his staff rode up. We all dismounted and General
Hampton stooped over the prostrate form, gently raised his head
and kissed him, saying: "My son, my son." It was his son, Lieutenant
Preston Hampton, his aide-de-camp.

The little group was in full view of the enemy, and a volley was
fired at us, wounding four of the party, one of them being
Captain Wade Hampton, Jr., another son of our noble chief, who,
having been upon the staff of General Joseph E. Johnston, and
reported for duty with his father upon the removal of
General Johnston from the command at Atlanta.

--

Not just an unfathomable loss, but so near the end of the war...

-Mike

[The emperor has no clothes]

Thanks for giving us a heads up on that great history.

I had chills just reading about the father finding his son

All the best to you and Tracy my friends.

Both of Wade Hampton's sons were shot down in his presence
at the Battle of Burgess' Mill. U.R. Brooks, who wrote Butler
and His Cavalry in the War of Secession (the history of
Butler's Brigade) was there too. He wrote:

--

I was making all the haste I could to get out of a fire which
was uncomfortably hot for one on horseback, several balls having
passed through my clothing, when I saw a staff officer, who
appeared to be riding to meet me, fall from his horse. I galloped
up to see who he was and to render assistance, when General
Hampton and his staff rode up. We all dismounted and General
Hampton stooped over the prostrate form, gently raised his head
and kissed him, saying: "My son, my son." It was his son, Lieutenant
Preston Hampton, his aide-de-camp.

The little group was in full view of the enemy, and a volley was
fired at us, wounding four of the party, one of them being
Captain Wade Hampton, Jr., another son of our noble chief, who,
having been upon the staff of General Joseph E. Johnston, and
reported for duty with his father upon the removal of
General Johnston from the command at Atlanta.

--

Not just an unfathomable loss, but so near the end of the war...

-Mike

There was so much loss in that war. It's amazing we have been able to come together as a country after that.