Post Scripts: The sad story of taps

Last week, I and several other residents in our apartment complex,were invited to attend a special Veterans Day program at a nearby San Marcos Middle school. They have been doing this for several years now and each year their patriotic program just keeps getting better and better. I always leave their auditorium with, yes, a few tears and a renewed appreciation of our great country and a fast-growing group of patriotic youngsters in whose hands the future of America lies.

Their program included band music, military formations and a significant Veterans Day speech by a student. The audience was made up of the student body, plus parents and veterans like our group from The Wellington. The school band was present to supply appropriate music to enhance the significance of the day. This was preceded by a delicious breakfast.

I assume it was a student and band member who supplied a moving rendition of "Taps" which he presented with dignity and great artistry. I can’t enjoy "Taps" anymore without shedding a tear or two, thinking back to the two wars I have been in, plus thinking of the tears and grief such wars have created for those personally involved as well as relatives and friends.

At one time or another all of us have heard "Taps" which gives us that lump in the throat and usually a tear or two. Taps began in 1862 during the Civil War when Union Army Captain was with his men near Harrison’s Landing in Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of a narrow strip of land. During the night Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who lay wounded on the field.

Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, Ellicombe decided to risk his life and bring the man back to medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through heavy gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him towards his encampment. When he reached his own lines he realized the man was a Confederate soldier, but he was dead. The Captain lit a lantern and then went numb with shock. In the dim light he saw the face of his own son who had been studying music in the South when war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army.

Heartbroken,the father asked permission of his superiors to give him a full military funeral despite his enemy status. He was turned down since his son was a Confederate but out of respect for the father they gave him only one musician. The father chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of notes he 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, and at the end of each day on U.S. military bases, was born.

Only recently did I know there was more than one verse -there are three! I just discovered that and thought my readers might want to know in case they were like old Joe.

Day is done. Gone the sun from the lakes, from the hills from the skies. 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.