November’s local Veterans gathering at Chase Point saw over 30 Veterans of World War II, Korea, Guam and Vietnam.
This month’s coffee and camaraderie included a video presentation of a young trumpet player performing the full version of “Taps.” The much-shortened version is played at military funerals.
“Taps” was first played in the context of a military funeral, when John C. Tidball, a Union artillery captain who during a break a Civil War battle ordered the tune sounded for a deceased soldier in lieu of the more traditional – and much less discreet – three gun volley tribute.
Army Col. James A. Moss, in an Officer’s Manual initially published in 1911, reports the following: “During the Peninsula Campaign in 1862, a soldier of Tidball’s Battery A of the Second Artillery was buried at a time when the battery occupied an advanced position concealed in the woods.
“It was unsafe to fire the customary three volleys over the grave, on account of the proximity of the enemy, and it occurred to Capt. Tidball that the sounding of “Taps” would be the most appropriate ceremony that could be substituted.”
An invitation was extended to the Lincoln County Veterans for a Veterans’ Day celebration on Wed., Nov. 9 at Medomak Middle School. The students sent an invitation to the group hoping that many will attend as they honor and remember those who have served the country in the past and those who continue to serve today.
Joe Gray shared information on a special project being conducted by the Library of Congress. They are asking any veterans who are willing to participate to fill out a simple questionnaire that will document their history in the military.
The next gathering is set for Wed., Dec. 7 at 9:30 a.m., and includes a guest speaker from the Veterans’ Administration.
She will bring new information on benefits that may be unknown to many veterans. For example, if a soldier, injured in the line of duty, has difficulties relating to that injury surface many years later, they can be assisted by the VA. There is no statute of limitations and the Veterans’ Administration is trying to reach out to be sure that this information is available.
This group is unaffiliated with any larger group and is a grassroots effort to increase support and camaraderie among people with similar experiences. The former Servicemen and Servicewomen hear a presentation, sometimes by other local Vets, and sometimes by guest speakers.
All interested Veterans are encouraged to join in this informal gathering, where soldiers share stories, friendship and support for one another on the first Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. in the Community Room at Chase Point on the Miles Campus, off Bristol Road. The Veterans use this location so those who reside in the Miles complexes can attend.
