Thread: Taps at military funerals

Pipes always get me since having served on a few police honor guards.

I love the pipes and had a college roommate who played them. He hadn't played them in years but got back into it to play at my wedding. He warned me that his kilts no longer fit (and he was right!) but he still managed to do a fantastic job. I will forever be grateful to him for making that effort and if I happen to die before him I would appreciate it if he would play them for me again.

For me, taps brings tears, pipes bring tears and goosebumps.

Does anyone have the verses to taps? I have heard it sung before & that will make you cry for sure.

Slawman

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, 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.

Sun has set, shadows come,
Time has fled, Scouts must go to their beds
Always true to the promise that they made.

While the light fades from sight,
And the stars gleaming rays softly send,
To thy hands we our souls, Lord, commend.

http://youtu.be/x9xNoEu3O8c

Finding someone to play an instrument at a funeral is hard to find in my area. Bag pipes were used a lot here, but those pipers (getting older and older) are getting harder and harder to find. Even in parades, the pipers are getting less and less. You'd think the military would have more people do this service for veterans and fallen soldiers. I'd rather have silence than recorded music. Good luck on your quest, Ron.

Ron I'm in 100% agreement with you about having an actual person play Taps. Anything else is sub standard and doesn't show the respect that is deserved.

There are others who show the respect in other ways. Please forgive me if I've hijacked your thread with this video. It's several years old and I don't know if he is still doing this tribute but I thank him for doing it then.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7j64VgM8-4

I heard an electronic version of taps at the cemetery on Memorial Day last year. I didn't like it; it sounded flat and a little fake.

I finally have the beginning of progress. After multiple emails to the County Veterans Service Officer, I finally was told today that one of my emails has been forwarded to the Commander of the Memorial Rifle Squad. I guess it will be up to him to determine what happens next.

As an Iraq vet I have been present for both methods unfortunately. The recorded and electronic versions are a matter of expediency and I understand it's still a show of respect but a live bugler puts his soul into it and you can hear the difference.