Happy Memorial Day

Hello Everyone,

I know Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for all of those that have died in our Nation's service; but by God's grace all of my family members came back from their particular war/conflict. So I did just want to recognize some of them here on this day and also some family members who are just now getting started on this journey.

I really enjoy all of the holidays that are in honor of our soldiers and veterans. They so deserve it. I am reminded of my own family. I have had a family member in every conflict/war that the United States have ever fought in. I have seen my friends worry about their sons and daughters, who are my own daughters age, as they went off to Iraq. I am grateful that they all came back safely - so many haven't. I am thinking of several of my cousins children, who are teenagers, yet they are making the greatest sacrifice for their country a person can make. Some are just going into boot camp some are being ready to deploy - all are in my prayers and make their family so proud.

All of the above mentioned individuals are heroes. They were/are all part of different branches of the military. This post is in dedication to members of my family my great-grandfather, grandfather, father and step-father, Uncle Johnny and grandfather-in-law. Also to my friends' children, my cousins' children - Thank You!!

Thank you to all of you that have already passed from this world. Thank you to those of you that have went and fought and are back with loved ones. Thank you to those of you that are just now starting your life and will be separated for months from your loved ones. I know you will be brave and you have already made us all proud.

To all of the families who loved ones haven't returned from their service to our Nation - Thank you for your sacrifice and for your beloveds sacrifice. They gave all.

The first time I heard taps I cried. It is so haunting. But it also makes you proud when the time comes and you hear it at a loved ones funeral. Here's a little history and a video.

There is a myth about the origin of Taps that is circulating about the Internet. The true story is that in July 1862, after the Seven Days battles at Harrison's Landing (near Richmond), Virginia, the wounded Commander of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, V Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, General Daniel Butterfield reworked, with his bugler Oliver Wilcox Norton, another bugle call, "Scott Tattoo," to create Taps. He thought that the regular call for Lights Out was too formal. Taps was adopted throughout the Army of the Potomac and finally confirmed by orders. Soon other Union units began using Taps, and even a few Confederate units began using it as well. After the war, Taps became an official bugle call. Col. James A. Moss, in his Officer's Manual first published in 1911, gives an account of the initial use of Taps at a military funeral:

"During the Peninsular Campaign in 1862, a soldier of Tidball's Battery A of the 2nd Artillery was buried at a time when the battery occupied an advanced position concealed in the woods. It was unsafe to fire the customary three volleys over the grave, on account of the proximity of the enemy, and it occurred to Capt. Tidball that the sounding of Taps would be the most appropriate ceremony that could be substituted." More about the true history of Taps can be found at: 24 Notes That Tap Deep Emotions and at the official Military Funeral Honors History of Taps page.

Words to Taps

(Note: there are no "official" words to Taps

below are the most popular.)

Day is done,

gone the sun,

From the hills,

from the lake,

From the skies.

All is well,

safely rest,

God is nigh.

Go to sleep,

peaceful sleep,

May the soldier

or sailor,

God keep.

On the land

or the deep,

Safe in sleep.

Love, good night,

Must thou go,

When the day,

And the night

Need thee so?

All is well.

Speedeth all

To their rest.

Fades the light;

And afar

Goeth day,

And the stars

Shineth bright,

Fare thee well;

Day has gone,

Night is on.

Thanks and praise,

For our days,

'Neath the sun,

Neath the stars,

'Neath the sky,

As we go,

This we know,

God is nigh.

From Us Memorial Day http://www.usmemorialday.org/taps.html

Have a blessed day!