“Greater love has no one than this, that they lay down their life for their friends." ~ John 15:13
Today will end too soon, a welcome pause to another holiday.
As evening casts her dusky shadow, when the wind becomes quiet and peaceful,
the time for joyful reflection will arrive. Every day, rain or shine, blizzard
or heat, active-duty volunteers stand at attention near the flagpole at the
WWII Memorial not far from the White House.
Sharply clad in a WWI Army uniform, he wore the unique headgear
of the Army’s 93rd Infantry Division who were assigned to the blue-helmeted
French army in the European theatre. With a polished bugle tucked under his arm, he reverently faced
the memorial and silently waited.
Promptly at 5 p.m., he
snapped the bugle to his lips and played the mournful, bugle tune “Taps.”
Everything in our Nation’s Capital seemed to go quiet for a minute.
Before walking away, he respectfully saluted “Old Glory.
There are no "official" words to “Taps,” but the
most popular lyrics are as follows:
“Day is done, gone the sun,
From the hills, from the lake, from the skies.
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh (near).”
Both eloquent and haunting, “Taps” originally began during
the Civil War that called soldiers to rest from their efforts and extinguish all
lights. The music of its 24 notes became the Army’s official bugle call after
the war but was not given the name “Taps” until 1874.
It was played for the first time at the military funeral
for a Union cannoneer killed in action. The commanding officer decided the
bugle call would be safer than the usual firing of three rifle volleys over the
soldier’s grave, a move which could confuse the nearby enemy as an attack. Since
then, “Taps” has become part of U.S. military funerals to honor for those who
wore our nation’s uniform.
“Taps” is played to honor both the living and dead military
community. Veterans Day salutes all who have served; Memorial Day honors those
who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
But we should remember them in our prayers and gratitude
EVERY day. Every new day presents an opportunity to give thanks for those
Americans who’ve given part of themselves to serve our nation. Every day offers
another chance to remember the great responsibility of defending our homeland
that they accepted. Every day reminds us that service to our country is not just a sacrifice made by the
soldier, marine, sailor, pilot, or guard - but of his or her entire family.
God bless you all.
Gracious Lord, today we pray for those who
serve and have served our military for the cause of freedom. May their
sacrifice inspire in us the selfless love of Your Son, Jesus. Bless the
families of our troops and fill them with Your strength and peace. Amen
