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.
The words above are the lyrics of the song we know as Taps. Taps is probably the most recognizable song without words in the world. A song that chokes us up when we hear it. A song that creates an impression almost immediately. Taps is a simple melody, almost always performed by one instrument---a single bugle.
Today is Memorial Day. If you are 60 or older you recall this day as Decoration Day in your youth. Unlike the holiday Veterans Day, where we honor those who served in the Armed forces of the United States, Memorial Day is a time when we pause and remember those who lost their lives in the service and defense of the United States. Few can say they know of no one who gave their lives for the American way of life.
Memorial, memory, remember. This holiday was probably started in the south during the Civil War. The human tragedy played out for 5 years in this country during that war is far too terrible to contemplate. I'm sure one day after a major battle southern soldiers gathered in shock and confusion and contemplated what had just happened. So many friends who just the night before were eating, cajoling, and singing, were now gone. Silent. Many saw their pals die right in front of their eyes. During the Civil War many units, both north and south, were made up of men who lived in the same geographical area. Thus, a large battle loss to a specific unit could see the youths of a whole town disappear. The first Memorial day sprung from such a time of reflection exhibited by those Southern soldiers so many years ago. Their friends were gone but not forgotten. Memorial, memory, remember.
The tragic reality of the Civil War was far more insidious. This war pitted Father against Son, Son against Father. This reality came home to roost one day in 1861. The exact place was Harrison's Landing in Virginia. On this day the song Taps was born. The author of the song is unknown, but we know when the song was first used in a military burial. Here is the story of Taps, the song most recognised with Memorial Day.
Captain Robert Ellicombe, of the Union Army, sat at days end behind a barricade after a vicious battle at Harrison's Landing. He was haunted with the cries, and wails coming from outside the barricade from a wounded and dying soldier. Captain Ellicombe wished the cries would stop. Out of compassion he wished the pain would end for the soldier. The sun quickly vanishing, he made the decision to attempt to go and get that wounded soldier. Crawling on his belly Captain Ellicombe could hear the sound of the shots going over his head. He followed the cries until he reached the soldier. He dragged him back to the barricade, only to find the soldier had died. Then to his amazement he saw that the soldier was wearing a confederate uniform. The flames from the fire illuminated the young man's face. Captain Ellicombe was looking at his Son, his dead Son. His oldest son was attending a School of Music in the south when the war broke out.
Captain Ellicombe went to the General and explained what had just happened and asked for a full military burial for his son, even though he was a confederate. The General denied the request. The Captain then asked the General for the Army Band to play a song that he had found crumpled up in his Son's pocket. The General thought a short time and out of respect for the Captain's service and predicament he declined use of the Army Band, but authorized use of one member of the Band. This one musician was a bugler. The song he played was the song we now know as Taps.
http://www.wtv-zone.com/upisdown/sounds/taps.mid
Memorial, Memory, remember.
