Thread: Taps at military funerals

I was approached to do Honor Guard when I was AF. I asked all kinds of questions about uniforms, M14s/M1 Garands, time away from home, travel obligations, practice etc. I also asked how hard was it to play Taps to the girl that was talking to me about Honor Guard. She replied that they play the "electronic Taps". I didn't even know that existed! I was sick to my stomach that the world's finest military (Army, Navy, Air Force, USMC) couldn't train and teach, or even retain anyone to play REAL Taps!

Well.......My father-in-law was buried last week, a vet of the Air Force.
I was not into the arrangements. Let them do it.

Still, closed-casket with a flag. Ceremony by 3 elderly vets with the starched shirts and yellow hats.
Taps was played from a distance by one via recording (not a fake bugle!) as the other two began the salute and flag-folding.
The third enjoined the other 2 ensuring the flag was folded tight and right.

One delivered the flag to mother-in-law and teetered a bit as he knelt.
Whispered kind and reassuring words as he passed the flag to her.
He stood and all saluted her.

The old paw-in-law worked an air base in Africa for a few years back then.
I felt these men honored him as fine as ever. Fine men!
All volunteer, was a nice thing they did.
JMHO

First and Foremost, My sincere sympathy for the loss of your father in law.

As has been seen the vets of certain periods are diminishing and rather quickly. I know that those three men were honored to be in attendance. And Honor him they did.

I thank them for it.

Roy