The origination of TAPS (1 Viewer)

[Navy Pride]

I guess I have heard TAPS 10,000 times and I never knew this.

TAPS

>> If any of you have ever been to a military funeral in
>> which taps were played; this brings out a new meaning of it.
>>
>> Here is something Every American should know. Until I
>> read this, I didn't know, but I checked it out and it's true:
>>
>> We in the United States have all heard the haunting
>> song, "Taps". It's the song that gives us that lump in our throats
>> and
>> usually tears in our eyes.
>>
>> But, do you know the story behind the song? If not, I
>> think you will be interested to find out about its humble beginnings.
>>
>> Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War,
>> when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harri
>> son's
>> Landing in Virginia The Confederate Army was on the other side of
>> the narrow strip of land.
>>
>> During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a
>> soldier who lay severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was
>> a
>> Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and
>> bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his
>> stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier
>> and began pulling him toward his encampment.
>>
>> When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he
>> discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was
>> dead.
>>
>> 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 father, the boy
>> enlisted in the Confederate Army.
>>
>> The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked
>> permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial,
>> despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted.
>>
>> The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army
>> band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral.
>>
>> The request was turned down since the soldier was a
>> Confederate.
>>
>> But, out of respect for the father, they did say they
>> could give him only one musician.
>>
>> The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play
>> a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the
>> pocket
>> of the dead youth's uniform.
>>
>> This wish was granted.
>>
>> The haunting melody, we now know as "Taps" ... used at
>> military funerals was born.
>>
>> The words are :
>>
>> 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.
>>
>> I too have felt the chills while listening to! "Taps"
>> but I have never seen all the wor ds to the song until now. I didn't
>> even know there was more than one verse. I also never knew the story
>> behind the song and I didn't know if you had either so I thought I'd
>> pass it along.
>>
>> I now have an even deeper respect for the song than I
>> did before.
>>
>> Remember Those Lost and Harmed While Serving Their
>> Country.
>> And also those presently serving in the Armed Forces.
>>
>> Please send this on after a short prayer.
>>
>> Make this a Prayer wheel for our soldiers..please don't
>> break it.

 

[Captain America]

To this day, I cannot listen to TAPS without tearing up. Even reading this gives me goosebumps.

 

[Tashah]

To this day, I cannot listen to TAPS without tearing up. Even reading this gives me goosebumps.

I once attended a military funeral at Arlington National Cemetary. I'll never ever forget that beautiful tribute to a fallen warrior.

PS. If anyone has the gall to consider this thread as an invitation to bash, I promise that you will regret your callous disrespect. Take it elsewhere.

Tashah

 

[Navy Pride]

I once attended a military funeral at Arlington National Cemetary. I'll never ever forget that beautiful tribute to a fallen warrior.

PS. If anyone has the gall to consider this thread as an invitation to bash, I promise that you will regret your callous disrespect. Take it elsewhere.

Tashah

Some who have not served in the military may not know that aboard ship they usually turn the lights off in the berthing compartments at 10PM and that is preceded by either a live bugler or a tape of TAPS........

It was always a beautiful , peaceful, serene time for me......

 

[Captain America]

Some who have not served in the military may not know that aboard ship they usually turn the lights off in the berthing compartments at 10PM and that is preceded by either a live bugler or a tape of TAPS........

It was always a beautiful , peaceful, serene time for me......

Me too.

Taps, taps. Lights out. The smoking lamp is out.

 

[t125eagle]

i agree. the song is lovely but most of the time i cannot bear to hear it as i have been to more than one military funeral. it touches a deep emotional chord in everyone i think.

 

[Captain America]

i agree. the song is lovely but most of the time i cannot bear to hear it as i have been to more than one military funeral. it touches a deep emotional chord in everyone i think.

When I was pushin' booters at GLRTC, I would get on Rick's arse for not being solemn during taps. They would be cutting up, cracking jokes, horse-playing........ They never did it twice. :shock:

 

[t125eagle]

good for you Capn America... a solumn respect is necessary for Taps, i think. especially considering what and who it represents

 

[shuamort]

All well and good, but the story in the OP is debunked urban legend:

Taps began as a revision to the signal for Extinguish Lights (Lights Out) at the end of the day. Up until the Civil
War, the infantry call for Extinguish Lights was the one set down in Silas Casey's (1801-1882) Tactics, which had been borrowed from the French. The music for Taps was adapted by Union General Daniel Butterfield for his brigade (Third Brigade, First Division, Fifth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac) in July, 1862.

Daniel Adams Butterfield (1831-1901) was born in Utica, New York and graduated from Union College at Schenectady. He was the eastern superintendent of the American Express Company in New York when the Civil War broke out. A Colonel in the 12th Regiment of the New York State Militia, he was promoted to Brigadier General and given command of a brigade of the 5th Corps of the Army of the Potomac.

As the story goes, General Butterfield was not pleased with the call for Extinguish Lights, feeling that the call was too formal to signal the days end, and with the help of the brigade bugler, Oliver Willcox Norton (1839-1920), wrote Taps to honor his men while in camp at Harrison's Landing, Virginia, following the Seven Days battle. These battles took place during the Peninsular Campaign of 1862. The new call, sounded that night in July, 1862, soon spread to other units of the Union Army and was reportedly also used by the Confederates. Taps was made an official bugle call after the war.

As for the origins of the myth:

So where did this myth come from?

I have traced this tale to a Ripley's "Believe It Or Not" story that Robert Ripley created for his short-lived TV program in 1949. This is chronicled in the book Ripley, the Modern Marco Polo: The Life and Times of the Creator of "Believe It Or Not" by Bob Considine, published by Doubleday & Co. in 1961. As Considine wrote: "The denouement of this is a coincidence incredible even by Rip's standards."


The Taps myth took on a life of its own and was even printed as fact in an Ann Landers or Dear Abby column. A retraction was later printed. It has acquired a renewed life on the Internet and is spread by many unsuspecting but well-meaning people who believe it to be true. It is unfortunate to see it on websites, especially military and veterans' sites that should know better. It is hoped that those who are interested in history will spread the word to stop the myth.

So let's respect those who gave their lives for the country and let their legends shine instead of the urban legend.

 

[Captain America]

Well, it WAS Navy Pride who made the original post here. S'pose we should have known better. :roll:

He has his own version of reality.

Too funny......:rofl

 

[Navy Pride]

Well, it WAS Navy Pride who made the original post here. S'pose we should have known better. :roll:

He has his own version of reality.

Too funny......:rofl

I posted it because I thought it was a nice story now we have a far left Liberal making a joke out of it.......

Sad...........

 

[Captain America]

Well, it was a nice story. Much nicer than the other stories you usually tell.

Still, TAPS gives me the goosebumples regardless of it's conception.

 

[Navy Pride]

Well, it was a nice story. Much nicer than the other stories you usually tell.

Still, TAPS gives me the goosebumples regardless of it's conception.

Yeah we can agree on that and just remember one thing people that live in glass houses should not throw stones.........

 

[Paladin]

I learned the words in Boy Scouts, my dad was the scoutmaster and an ex-marine. He taught me the words. He died May of 2005. Sometimes even a 50 year old man misses his dad. I sang, although poorly, Taps at his funeral.
ted

 

[Navy Pride]

I learned the words in Boy Scouts, my dad was the scoutmaster and an ex-marine. He taught me the words. He died May of 2005. Sometimes even a 50 year old man misses his dad. I sang, although poorly, Taps at his funeral.
ted

Thank you for your story............I am sorry for your loss......May your father rest in peace........

 

[Captain America]

I learned the words in Boy Scouts, my dad was the scoutmaster and an ex-marine. He taught me the words. He died May of 2005. Sometimes even a 50 year old man misses his dad. I sang, although poorly, Taps at his funeral.
ted

I'm 50 too. I miss my dad too. I try not to think about it much but it's hard. I still don't think I have completed all the stages of grieving yet. Sometimes, out of the blue, (like right now,) I just want to cry my eyes out I miss him so much.

He was a good man. I hope to be just a fraction of the good man that he was. I hope I make him proud.

 

[F41]

Listen to John Wayne give the history of Taps. A download file should open and you can choose to open with default or save to disk. Taps