Bugle Call "Taps" is 150 Years Old Today

Musicians across the United States will sound a special tribute to "Taps" on its 150th birthday

The mournful, iconic notes of America's most famous bugle call will sound at special ceremonies to mark the melody's 150th birthday today. "Taps" began "as a replacement signal to order lights out at the end of the day in the military," according to Taps150.org. The website goes on to explain that the song evolved "into funeral honors accorded all uniformed persons who have faithfully served our country." Facts about "Taps": Here are the original lyrics to "Taps": 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 near Falls the night. Thanks and praise for our days Neath the sun, neath the stars…

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Life in the Slow Lane

Good Grief: Learning the Etiquette of Death

Here are some of the dumb things to avoid saying.

When someone close to you dies, you become a member of a club you’d rather not join.   My initiation five years ago when my father passed away was both a revelation and a lesson in etiquette. Before that, I had no idea what to say to people in that situation; I was sure that any mention of their loss would cause more pain. Turns out “I’m so sorry” is usually enough; philosophizing on how God must have needed another angel is way too much.  Before performing a funeral, a clergyman I know typically asks the deceased’s loved ones what was the dumbest thing anyone has said to them about their loss. The answers range from “God wanted her more than you did” to “Do you think you’ll remarry?”  But for most of us, the problem is not so much saying …

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