[TPIN] Taps for military personnel only?

[Glenn Bengry]

Al,
 
Millions of people serve our country every day.  They don't don a military uniform and dodge bullets.  But what they do is honorable service nonetheless.
 
    Teachers are one example among thousands.  The service they render extends generations into the future. Fanfare for the Common Man was written for those people in 1942 who toiled, shared in the labors, sorrows, and hopes of all of our countrymen. They deserve to be honored as does any human being.  Usually Taps is not played for them, but it would not be because they didn't serve their country everyday without ever being recognized or celebrated.  I don't think it would be
any sacrilege to play Taps for them either.  There is no disrespect present anywhere in doing so.  
 
    None of this is to take away anything from any servicemen and women or veterans.  They are worthy of special respect, especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.  I have played scores of services for them and taught students how to play with reverance and how to play echo taps.
 
    
 
glenn
 
 
PS  Having taught American History
for 15 years, I have come across
some stories of how Taps came about
but none of them can be proven so 
far as I know.
 
x
 
x
 
> From: albert.lilly at sbcglobal.net> > Every time I have played taps, I've done it out of respect for the > person who passed if I was doing it for free. I've played literally > thousands of times through Taps at a funeral, Memorial Day or > Veteran's Day service, or other type of service for veterans, police > officers, or fallen service officers (fire, EMTs, etc.) in the line > of duty. >  For that reason, I do > not play Taps for just anyone who wants to hear it at their funeral. > I play for those who EARNED THE RIGHT. Feel free to disagree with me > on this, but don't plan on changing my mind. For those whom I do not > feel Taps is appropriate, I play either Amazing Grace or I'll Fly > Away at the grave side, or am happy to recommend another who might do > the service for them. Both works are also very fitting tributes, and > can be very poignant at that moment.