taps

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Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Elli was with his men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia . The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land.

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During the night, Captain Elli 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.

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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

touching appeal to remember

imperative to pass along

End.

Air Force brats drove me nuts growing up and still do. I think I keep tangential contact to remind me of that. The things that get passed as wisdom easily challenged but challenging them causes only discord and dissension and not improved wisdom. So be it. discord and dissension it is.

My response:

Apologies for being contrarian but I must. Does this purported history not strike you a little too precious? Just a wee bit too coincidental? Does it not hit just the right notes of irony, pathos, and emotion? And is it not suspect on that alone?

Honestly, a simple web search shows otherwise. This story is false. The real story much more mundane, less interesting. Try wikipedia, if you like. Or stick with this if you prefer.

There are other apocryphal stories of origin besides this one.

I do like this story. It appeals to me as it must to anybody. I would like to use it for a post online, but I cannot. (but I did!) I do not like being played, my emotions toyed with. Please, I urge you to check things before passing along.

I am not going to link anything for you. Do that yourself, if you like. Or not.

I notice Youtube video disallows comments on this, the one I looked at did, I'm certain the reason for that is because it would be quickly corrected.