July 4th, please
throw up a prayer for my friend Diane Bahler and a team that Includes, whites,
Native Americans, and an African American, praying over the Mississippi River
and tributaries...repenting for America on this 4th of July that God would
restore our nation Under GOD. And have
a great holiday!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TAPS
I too, have felt the chills while
listening to "Taps" but I have never seen
all the words 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
any of 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.
THE HAUNTING SONG, "TAPS"
We have all heard the haunting song,
"Taps." It's the song that gives us that
lump in our throats and usually creates
tears in our eyes.
But, do you know the story behind the
song? If not, I think you will be
delighted to find out about it's humble
beginnings.
It all began in 1862 during the Civil War,
when Union Army Captain Robert
Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison'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
mortally 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, he 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. The request was
turned down because 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.
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.
God bless you, Priscilla