Grace Drops
  • Home
  • About
  • Bereavement & Pastoral Care
    • Setting Goals to Get Through Grieving
    • Sunday Scaries: 10 Ideas
    • Grace Drops Blog
  • Grace Drops Blog
  • Store
  • Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Grace Drops Blog

Taps

3/27/2014

Comments

 
Picture© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.
The following is reportedly the story of the origin of “Taps,” played at military funerals.

Reportedly, 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 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.


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.

Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume 5 (2007).


Comments

Life Support

2/18/2013

Comments

 
Picture
© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.
A knight returned to his castle at twilight. He was a mess. His armor was dented, his helmet askew, his face was bloody, his horse was limping and he listed to one side in the saddle. His lord met him at the gate, asking, "What has befallen you, Sir Knight?"

Straightening himself up as best he could, he replied, "Oh, Sire, I have been laboring in your service, robbing and burning and pillaging your enemies to the west."

"You have been what?" cried the startled nobleman. "But I haven't any enemies to the west!"
"Oh!" said the knight. And then, after a pause, "Well, I think you do now."

What about you? Enemies to the west? Or the north, or the south or the east? Few people will sail through life friends with everyone they meet. And though most conflict can be resolved and relationships healed, some issues may drive a permanent wedge between people. Heart-felt moral and political and religious stances, especially, can polarize folks who just as passionately hold differing positions. 


Former U.S. Ambassador Claire Booth Luce once observed: "I don't have a warm personal enemy left. They've all died off. I miss them terribly because they helped define me." 


Even those opposed to you and what you stand for can serve a purpose. They can teach you about you. They can teach you about yourself. They can help you see what you may have missed. They can sharpen your point of view. And they can teach you about being strong in the face of criticism. 


If enemies cannot become friends, they can become teachers. And if you listen, they will teach you what your friends cannot.


© 2004, John C. Fitts, III.  All Rights Reserved.  Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume II (2004). 

Comments

    Author

    John Fitts is a retired hospital chaplain and a contributor & publisher of Grace Drops. John lives in Palm Harbor, Florida with his artist wife, Patty. 
    You can receieve Grace Drops in your email each week by signing up here.
    ​

    Sign up for Grace Drops

    Archives

    April 2020
    December 2019
    June 2019
    February 2019
    September 2018
    May 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    March 2016
    October 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Categories

    All
    Adversity
    Anger
    Christmas
    Compassion
    Cooperation
    Death & Dying
    Devotional
    Empathy
    Empowerment
    Encouragement
    Endurance
    Enemies
    Ethics
    Excellence
    Expectations
    Faith
    Family
    Fear
    Forgiveness
    Freedom Vs. Restraint
    Friendship
    Generosity
    Goals
    Grace Drops
    Grace Drops
    Gratitude
    Higher Power
    Higher Power
    Honesty
    Hope
    Humility
    Judgment
    Laughter
    Leadership
    Life Lessons
    Listening
    Live In The Moment
    Love
    Loyalty
    Motivation
    Peace
    Positive Outlook
    Praise
    Prayer
    Responsibility
    Smile
    Struggle
    Success
    Tranquility
    Trust

    RSS Feed

    © This website, the images on the website, and all material found within this site are copyrighted.
    Any copying or reproducing in part or whole, without consent, is strictly prohibited.
     

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.