Why "TAPS"
is played..
If
any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which taps were played; this
brings out a new meaning of it.
Here is something Every North
American should know.. Until I read this:
We in the North
America 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 And also those presently serving in the Armed Forces.
Please send this on after a short prayer for our
soldiers
Video Linkhttp://youtu.be/Wn_iz8z2AGw
Published 3/6/07 ALT MSN Group
Web Page: Why TAPS is played...
is played..
If
any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which taps were played; this
brings out a new meaning of it.
Here is something Every North
American should know.. Until I read this:
We in the North
America 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 And also those presently serving in the Armed Forces.
Please send this on after a short prayer for our
soldiers
Video Linkhttp://youtu.be/Wn_iz8z2AGw
Published 3/6/07 ALT MSN Group
Web Page: Why TAPS is played...
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