TAPS.....

[bassman]

Found this interesting and thought I would share with copy/paste.  I don't know if it's true/factual and didn't fact check or SNOPES it....just think it is heartwarming and learned a few things too.

                                  TAPS
 
Here is something Every American should know. Until I read this, I
didn't know, but I checked it out and it's true:
 
We in the United States have all heard the haunting song, "Taps".  It's
the song that gives us that 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 Ellicombe 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 Ellicombe 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.
 
Much love to each of you and to those who have and are serving our country!!! THANK YOU ALL!

[Oss]

 

[h13man]

AMEN.

[mojo]

American Legion service are always sad but TAPS being played brings tears to the eyes of the even the biggest men for the loss of our fallen comrades.

Thanks for sharing Bassman 

Mojo
6'4  280#

[Moonshot_1]

Whenever I see a post about Taps I always post my story about it too.

I joined the PGR back in 2006 and was soon appointed to be the HOTH coordinator for Iowa. Can't say I did a lot but did what I could. It was in this role that our State Captain, Charlie Neil or Bear, (he has since passed away) asked me about some program called Wreaths Across America. He wanted me to set up and emcee the ceremony on behalf of the Iowa PGR to be held at the Iowa Veteran's Home in Marshalltown. This is a 3 hour haul for me one way. So I told him...Ok, I'll do it. Wound up doing it for 9 years.

Now on to the Taps part of the story. Our very first ceremony we held at the IVH had the residents present the wreaths at the flag display in their Common Hall area. We held it inside so the residents could better participate in the Ceremony. We get 7 Ceremonial Wreaths from WAA. At this first Ceremony, the wreath presenter for the Coast Guard was Dale Shankster. A WWII Coast Guard Vet. He must have been pushing 94 or 95 then.
After the wreaths were laid at the Flags in the Hall, we came to the end of the Ceremony where Taps was to be played. We had an Echo Taps planned with 2 buglers. As Taps began, Dale began belting out the words to Taps. I knew there were words to Taps. There are a few different versions but one Common one and Dale was belting it out. After Taps was over I took to the podium to let everyone know what we just heard. Explained that there were words to Taps and Dale was singing it. Not too many people realized it till I explained it.
Our bugler that was in the Hall, (the ehco was out in the outside hallway) also realized what Dale was doing and told me he almost couldn't finish. No one knew he was going to do this and for those of us who knew Dale was singing Taps I don't think there was a dry eye amongst us.

After the Ceremony, Dale was pretty popular. He drew a crowd as people wanted to know about how he knew the words and why he sang it.

Dale said that when he and his buddies came back from the war they started an American Legion Post. They were asked to perform Honor Guard Duties at funerals but no one could play a bugle or horn of any kind, so they sang it. It became a tradition for them.

That was our first Ceremony. Dale passed away the following year. We continued the tradition.

Because of some changes in my daily schedule I have passed the emcee and coordinator torch to others in the PGR.

We still sing it every year at the Wreaths Across America Ceremony in Marshalltown.

[scooperhsd]

Beautiful story Mike. Are you trying to match writing skills with Bruce (DDT)?

 

[old2soon]

I've escorted W A A twice to the Fort Leonard Wood Military Cemetery. Very Moving and in our case the driver of the semi was a Veteran. The Most moving TAPS I've ever heard was Played-not the electronic version-this Young Army Corporal blew TAPS with his expertise on the bugle. Where he stood is a curved area holding the ashes of Veterans at the Springfield Missouri Veterans Cemetery and near the little shelter before they inter the remains and there are rolling hills beyond where the Bugler stood. He played slow and that day was Perfect because we heard three Distinct echoes of Each and Every note. Lotsa Gnarly old Nam Vets a few Korean War Vets and NOT One Dry eye in the Flag Line That day. And the Army contingent left before we could talk to that Corporal. When I am R C I C and after TAPS and the Flag presentation I say something to the Widow or a Family member. cursed hard to speak when I am Still choked up from TAPS. RIDE SAFE.

[..]

Good story but..........................................

https://www.npr.org/2011/05/30/136721508/historian-explains-the-origin-of-taps

[Pete]

Taps played on a Trumpet or piano has always been a favorite.
May it always be so.

[Jambriwal]

thanks for all the submissions.
 Best page I'll read today the day after Veteran's day.

[Jess from VA]

I played trumpet (actually coronet) in Jr Hi and HS concert band (but never marching band as I played football).  I was bugler for our boy scout troop.

Bugles are cheap and lack the superior sound quality of trumpets and coronets, even if you never touch the valves, they sound way better for bugle calls.

After a few frozen nights camping with the scouts, I learned to sleep with my bugle mouthpiece in the sleeping bag. 

My troop did not care for reveille in the mornings, and often threw things. 

In the USAF, it was all on tape. 

[BobB]

It is the long standing custom of our Boy Scout troop to stand in a circle and sing the first verse at the close of meetings.  Don't know how far this does back, but the troop is over 100 years old (est 1912).