Finally My Eagle Is Complete!

Well as you can tell by the title I am talking about my Eagle Scout. Yup, that is right my Court of Honor was tonight. For me it kind of represents almost another building block finally set in place in the building of my overall life. I know that some of you are a little less interested in patriotic items concerning this country and its history, but I am, and I am sure that there are more out there just like me.

So to start out I would kind of like to mention some stuff about the Flag, that is right, the Flag of The United States of America. Most of you don’t know this, but technically it is disrespectful to walk between two flags ( like the United States Flag and the Utah Flag) this kind of explains why.

Between these flags that proudly fly
Let no man dare to stand.
For here our fallen comrades lie,
A symbol, yes, but mark it well.
Here let us ever humbly pause
In memory of the lads who fell
In fighting for our sacred cause,
Some lie beneath a foreign sod
In graves caressed by winds and tide,
In spots unknown to all but God.
And so, this place is hallowed ground.
And it shall be forever blest
As tho it were a grassy mound
Beneath which gallant heroes rest.
Be ever watchful, Legionnaire,
Of those two flags which signify
That we should guard this spot with care
Where our departed comrades lie

And, If an Man Should Dare to Tread
This Spot Where Lie Our Gallant Brave,
He Desecrates Those Noble Dead
As Tho He Walked upon Their
Grave

Now I thought that that was kind of interesting, but I personally had never heard it before.

Now on yet a different note, we have a song that you have all heard. Some of you sing it when you squish a bug and yet others might not know quite what it is. This song is called “Taps”. Most of you will recognize it if you have seen a military funeral, it is played in honor of a soldier when he dies. But this song dates clear back to the civil war- and here is where it is thought to have come from.

Origin of Taps

We have all heard the haunting song, “Taps.” It’s the song that gives us the lump in our throats and usually creates tears in our eyes. But, do you know the story behind the song?

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 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 one musician. He asked the bugler to play 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.


So everybody, remember respect comes in different ways. But when it comes to our country- you can hardly give enough.