Live taps performance becoming rare

Washington Times ^ | Monday, February 21, 2005

[JohnHuang2]

BATH, N.Y. (AP) — Once the pastor intoned, "May he rest in peace," a Marine Corps honor guard lifted the flag off Thomas Wagner's casket and held it aloft. Right on cue, from an adjacent hilltop at Bath National Cemetery, there rose a stirring bugle call. Played by an American Legion post chaplain, the Civil War dirge known as taps endures as a final salute to fallen veterans " most of whom, like Mr. Wagner, were warriors long ago. "For the families of those who served, it adds a beautiful, somber tone, a feeling of finality," said Fran Look, a World War II paratrooper who performs at a dozen funerals each year and played at Mr. Wagner's ceremony.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

My father had a rifle squad gunfire salute and a bugler playing "Taps" at his graveside. He had been a career military officer. The playing of "Taps" tore me up.

[Smartaleck]

I had an occasion to be at the VietNam war memorial wall one morning, on Memorial Day, several years ago when my kids were small.

As one stands at the lowest point of the wall and looks to the east, towards the Wash. Monument, there is a small knoll.

From behind the knoll, as the sun rose in the East, there came the sounds of a marching Drum and Fife drawing near.

All present turned and looked expectantly for the marchers to come into view at the top of the knoll.

Dressed in period clothes of the Revolutionary War they were quite a sight.....

One, not of the Drum and Fife corp stepped forward from the group, silhouetted by the sun, raised his bugle and with reverence began to sound out the haunting melody of taps.

For anyone who has been to the Wall, they know what an emotionally moving place this is.

That Memorial day is one of the most emotional experiences I've ever had in my life.

God Bless all those for whom the bugle sounds that they will not have died in vain.