Subject: Military Taps, Do you know the words?
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 AMERICAN should know. Until I read
this, I didn't know, but I checked it out and it's true:
TAPS
We in the United States 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..
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 AMERICAN should know. Until I read
this, I didn't know, but I checked it out and it's true:
TAPS
We in the United States 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..
