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. Until I
read this, I didn't know, but I checked it out
and it's true:
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.
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.
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 near
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.
