Taps

Taps.  Only 24 notes, yet it honors and mourns countless stories of courage, sacrifice, and loss.

Last week a military bugler came to my daughter’s middle school to explain the history and significance of Taps but found himself overwhelmed by the experience.  He apologized for choking up during his presentation and said that it was the first time he’d ever had to explain Taps.  The reality of what it symbolizes hit him—so many young heroes lost.

My daughter said, “At first we thought he was stepping back to do something different with his talk, but then I could tell he was going to cry.”  We talk a lot about military service and patriotism in my family, and she quickly understood what was happening.  “It must be really hard for him and I thanked him after the assembly was over.  I didn’t know what else to say.”

Only 24 notes…

The site www.tapsbugler.com can tell you everything you need to know about this bugle call it describes as “eloquent and haunting.”