TAP IT OUT

My step dad Jim Crane loved music and his son David flew in from Chicago and played "Taps" on his horn at his dad's bedside the night Jim took his last breath. The simple tune gives us lumps in our throats and tears in our eyes without even knowing the story behind the song. The song was written by a young soldier in 1862 during the Civil War. Union Army Captain Robert Elli 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 Elli heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or a Confederate, the Captain chose to risk his life and bring the stricken man back to his camp for medical attention. Captain Elli crawled on his belly through gunfire to reach the wounded soldier. When he found the souldier he discovered a dead Confederat soldier. 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 dad, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army. Heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial. Since the boy was considered the enemy, his request was only partially granted. The Captain had asked to have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. Since the soldier was a Confederate, he was allowed to have one musician. The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes the father had found on a piece of paper in his son's pocket. The haunting melody, we now know as 'Taps' used at military funerals was born.

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
on high.

Remember those that gave their lives
to keep us safe. AMEN