[Oe List ...] OE Digest, Vol 85, Issue 25 ""The Last Post" aka "Taps"

[Richard and Maria Maguire]

Hi

On "The Last Post"  aka "Taps"

This is a very moving story, reflecting the pain of war and in this case 
particularly the US Civil War.  I wanted to know more, so did a little 
Google search.  The Wikipedia article I found claims that the story is 
not well verifiable, calls it a "legend" and give some what it considers 
more "verifiable". I don't claim to make any judgement on this.  But I 
do want to share my pain over how the events of war are so often made 
into legends to support war.  The Australian government has been giving 
particularly good examples of this, spending hundreds of millions of 
dollars celebrating the supposed contributions of its forces in World 
War I.  One of the biggest legends is that of the Gallipoli campaign in 
which hundreds or thousands died in an ill-conceived and futile attempt 
to invade Turkey.  The facts of the battle are not rehearsed, what is 
emphasized is the dedication, suffering and loyalty of the soldiers as 
they gave their lives and took others, and finally had to retreat in 
then dark.

Fortunately more is coming out about the effects of war on the soldiers 
and the increasing toll of war on civilians (approaching 90% of 
causalties in recent wars being for civilians). My uncle fought in the 
Pacific during WWII.  I only learned from my aunt after his death that 
when they got married years after the war about the effect on him.  He 
told her that if he started screaming in his sleep about the terrible 
things he experienced in the war, not to be too worried because this 
happened over and over. Nowadays this would be called PTSD, back then it 
was ignored, and today things are only a little better.

Current wars seem to have only made the situation worse.  The "War on 
Terror" has primarily served to increase the threat and reality of 
terrorism around the world.  A recent documentary "State of Terrorism" 
presents this extremely well. Consider the experience.  How much was 
being reported on "terrorism" before 2001 compared to now, after years 
and years, billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of deaths and 
even more refugees?

I believe it's important that we recognize that if war and its legends 
were ever an effective means of caring for the world, they have long 
past their "use by" date.  For me the Sermon on the Mount offers a much 
more realistic approach to life, no matter how much of the Gospels also 
contain some legends.

Best wishes

Richard



On 25/04/2019 21:28 PM, oe-request at lists.wedgeblade.net wrote:
>> From: Peter Fogarty
>> Subject: Fwd: FW: Last Post
>>
>>
>>
>> I certainly didn't know the story behind The Last Post. How very sad.
>>
>> If any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which The Last
>> Post was played;
>> This brings out a new meaning of it.
>>
>> Here is something everyone should know.
>>
>> Until I read this, I didn't know,
>>
>> We have all heard the haunting song, 'The Last Post.'
>> It's the song that gives us the lump in our throats and usually tears in
>> our eyes.
>>
>> But, do you know the story behind the song?
>> If not, I think you will be interested to find out about its humble
>> beginnings.
>>
>> Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the American 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 'The Last Post' 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 sk
>>   As we go. This we know. God is nigh
>> I too have felt the chills while listening to 'The Last Post'
>> But I have never seen all the words to the song until now.
>> I didn't even know there was more than one verse . I also never knew the
>> story behind the song and I didn't know if you had either so I thought I'd pass it along.
>>
>> I now have an even deeper respect for the song than I did before.
>>
>> Remember Those Lost and Harmed While Serving Their Country.
>>
>> Also Remember Those Who Have Served And Returned;
>> And for those presently serving in the Armed Forces.
>>
>> Please send this on.
>>
>> do it for our soldiers..

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