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

[Del Morrill]

Only now am I reading this; don’t look at my e-mails daily like I used to when I had clients on a regular basis. 

 

I appreciated this, Richard. Thanks for the reminder of the REAL results of war over against its realities. When my uncle got back from Europe and his WWII experiences, he did not want to talk about it at all.  When one of my aunts pushed him to talk about it at a family dinner, his response was something like, “unless you wish to hear about what it feels like to feel someone’s blood flow down your hand when you slit his throat, I’d rather not!”  That was the end of it for everyone – no more sharing of war experiences in my family! 

Del

 

It takes only a few seconds to wound the ones we love,

And years for them to be healed of those wounds.

 

 

 

 

From: OE <oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net> On Behalf Of Richard and Maria Maguire via OE
Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2019 6:25 PM
To: oe at lists.wedgeblade.net
Cc: Richard and Maria Maguire <richardandmaria at unfoldingfutures.net>
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] OE Digest, Vol 85, Issue 25 ""The Last Post" aka "Taps"

 

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 <mailto: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..

-- 
Transforming individuals and organisations towards a future worth living today.
Phone: +61 2 9896 3839, Post: 18 Sturdee St, Wentworthville NSW 2145 Australia
Winners of Outstanding Community Leader, 2014 Zest Award 
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