The Story and Origins of 'TAPS'

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 moan 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. Suddenly, he 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 partially granted. The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for the son at the funeral. That request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate. 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 his dead son’s uniform. This wish was granted. This music was the haunting melody we now know as “TAPS” that is used at all military funerals. In case you are interested, these are the words to “TAPS”:
Day is done
Gone the sun
From the lakes
From the hills
From the sky
All is well
Safely rest
God is nigh.

(Via http://www.nefla.com/military/stories.html)

Lift the Spirits Contest--Launched Today!

Do you want to lift the spirits of your friend or loved one who is deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll make your idea a reality for your servicemember. One winner will be chosen every month. Join our facebook fan page, http://facebook.com/MilitaryBenefit and post your suggestion on our wall for others to see–THEN post it to http://www.mbaevent.org to officially enter! You may enter as many times as you’d like with different ideas.

We will notify the winner of the month before the end of the following month. We will carry out the lucky winner’s idea and post it on our blogs: militarybenefitassociation.ning.com, militarybenefitassociation.wordpress.com and militarybenefitassociation.blogspot.com as well as our Facebook fan page.

Next announcement: December 1.