Taps

[RCglider Profile]

If any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which 'taps' was played, here is something EVERY AMERICAN should know.

BTW, it's not true....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TAPS:

We've all heard the haunting strains of 'Taps', the haunting refrain that gives us a lump in our throats and brings tears streaming from our eyes, but do you know the story behind the song? If not, I think you may be interested to learn something about its humble origins.

Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when a 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 wounded soldier laying helplessly on the battlefield. Not knowing whether it was a Yank or a rebel, the Captain risked his own life to drag the stricken man back to his own lines for medical attention.

When the Captain finally reached the safeti of his own lines, he soon discovered it was actually a young Confederate soldier, but by then, the soldier was dead. The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly, in the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son, David. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out, and without telling his father, the boy had enlisted, but 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 partially granted after requesting that the regimental band play a funeral dirge for his son, a request denied since the deceased was a Confederate. However, in respect for the father, the colonel did offer the regimental bugler.

Disappointed, the distressed father asked the bugler to devise a few musical notes to accompany the reading of a pair of verses he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform.

Thus the haunting melody we now know as "Taps" was first played at a military funeral for an "enemy" soldier. 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
...

For the true origin of TAPS, read here:
http://www.tapsbugler.com/24NotesExcerpt/Page1.html