The History of Taps

In Observance of Memorial Day

Of all the military bugle calls, none
is so easily recognized or more apt
to render emotion than Taps. Up to
the Civil War, the traditional call at
day's end was a tune, borrowed
from the French, called Lights Out.
In July of 1862, in the aftermath of
the bloody Seven Days battles, hard on the loss of 600 men
and wounded himself, Union General Daniel Adams
Butterfield called the brigade bugler to his tent. He thought
"Lights Out" was too formal and he wished to honor his men.
Oliver Wilcox Norton, the bugler, tells the story, "...showing
me some notes on a staff written in pencil on the back of an
envelope, (he) asked me to sound them on my bugle. I did this
several times, playing the music as written. He changed it
somewhat, lengthening some notes and shortening others, but
retaining the melody as he first gave it to me. After getting it to
his satisfaction, he directed me to sound that call for Taps
thereafter in place of the regulation call. The music was beautiful
on that still summer night and was heard far beyond the
limits of our Brigade. The next day I was visited by several
buglers from neighboring Brigades, asking for copies of the
music which I gladly furnished. The call was gradually taken
up through the Army of the Potomac."
This more emotive and powerful Taps was soon adopted
throughout the military. In 1874 It was officially recognized by
the U.S. Army. It became standard at military funeral ceremonies
in 1891. There is something singularly beautiful and appropriate
in the music of this wonderful call. Its strains are
melancholy, yet full of rest and peace. Its echoes linger in the
heart long after its tones have ceased to vibrate in the air.
- from an article by Master Sergeant Jari AVillanueva,USAF

Losing the War

Especially meaningful for Veterans of the Viet-Nam Era


General Vo Nguyen Giap


General Giap was a brilliant, highly respected leader of the North Vietnam military. The following quote is from his memoirs currently found in the Vietnam war memorial in Hanoi :
"What we still don't understand is why you Americans stopped the bombing of Hanoi . You had us on the ropes. If you had pressed us a little harder, just for another day or two, we were ready to surrender! It was the same at the battles of TET. You defeated us! We knew it, and we thought you knew it. But we were elated to notice your media was definitely helping us. They were causing more disruption in America than we could in the battlefields. We were ready to surrender. You had won!"

General Giap has published his memoirs and confirmed what most Americans knew. The Vietnam war was not lost in Vietnam -- it was lost at home. The exact same slippery slope, sponsored by the US media, is currently well underway. It exposes the enormous power of a biased media to cut out the heart and will of the American public.
A truism worthy of note: Do not fear the enemy, for they can take only your life. Fear the media far more, for they will destroy your honor.

sent to me by Highpower

^

Memorial Day Observation

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 and was first observed on 30 May 1868. It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May. In 1915 a woman named Moina Michael conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. This tradition soon spread to other countries. in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their "Buddy" Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. Sadly, many Americans todays have forgotten the true meaning of Memorial Day.

Here is what everyone shoud be doing -

• visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.

• visiting memorials.

• flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon.

• flying the 'POW/MIA Flag' as well

• by participating in a "National Moment of Remembrance": at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day, and for Taps to be played.

• by renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our falled dead, and to aid the disabled veterans.

Here is Cpl. Levi T. Angell. A hometown hero that gave his all for our freedoms. Pray for him and his family.

Lance Cpl. Levi T Angell, 20, of Saint Louis, Minn., died April 8 due to injuries received from hostile fire in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to Combat Service Support Group 11, 1^st Force Service Support Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Local History

Here is a photo of the construction of a paper mill
(the Northwest Paper Company)
in my hometown from 1898