From an e-mail: "This is
interesting...I did not know
this.
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:
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.
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.
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.
Also
Remember
Those Who Have Served And Returned; and
for those presently serving
in the Armed
Forces.