Jeffery Stewart 1949 - 1995
Gary Smith 1943 - 1996
Delbert Haddock 1948 - 1996 (Army January 68 - August 70)
Marvin Schulz 1947 - 1999 (Army April 69 - December 71)
Bryan Tubbs 1945 - 1999 (Army June 66 - May 68)
Charles Sperry III 1951 - 2000 (Navy February 72 - September 76)
Thomas Labowitch 1947 - 2000 (Army November 66 - August 68)
John Hinman 1947 - 2001 (Navy June 70 - September 71)
Edward Cafruny 1940 - 2002 (Army January 68 - October 70)
Jerry Gibbons 1941 - 2002 (Marine Corps November 59 - November 68)
Robert Cicotte 1947 - 2003 (Marine Corps February 64 - February 68)
T. Joseph Dorey 1943 - 2004 (Navy October 61 - September 65)
John Macik 1943 - 2005 (Army September 61 - September 64)
Basilio "Buzz" Rivera 1953 - 2005 (Air Force June 73 - June 77)
Chris Busse 1947 - 2005 (Army August 66 - August 69)
Thomas Butterfield 1947 - 2006 (Army February 67 - January 70)
Dennis Lowry 1948 - 2006 (Army June 67 - April 70)
Mike Ramsey 1945 - 2007 (Navy June 65 - February 69)
GeorgeTroell 1943 - 2007 (Army November 66 - September 68)
Lawrence M. Jarvis 1948 - 2007 (Marine Corps April 65 - March 69)
Joseph Kato Jr. 1945 - 2007 (Navy March 65 - March 68)
Tom Snell 1946 - 2008 (Air Force March 64 - March 68)
Kris (KC) Brimer 1948 - 2008 (Army October 67 - July 69)
Cornelis "Connie" McGowan 1947 - 2008 (Navy July 66 - May 68)
Harry Bryant 1948 - 2009 (Army Jan 67 - 1970)
Richard Torossian 1941 - 2010 (Army Feb 67 - Feb 69)
Franz Brenner 1941 - 2010 (Army June 64 - Nov 66)
Henry "Bob" Smith 1923 - 1995
Cynthia Estermyer 1951 - 1998
George Salhaney 1931 - 1998 (Army April 52 - January 54)
Stanley Jenkins 1924 - 2000
Judith LaGrow 1949 - 2003
Carol Luebke 1947 - 2003
William Jakobcic 1943 - 2003
Dorothy Dorey 1924 - 2004
Floyd Riley 1933 - 2004
Denise Cain 1953 - 2005
Lynn Wallace 1961 - 2005
Paricia Hull 1946 - 2006
James St. Holmes 1961 - 2007
Anna Smith 1923 - 2008
Adams Hays 1930 - 2010
Karen Ligner 1950 - 2010
"Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
(Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die!)
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am the song that will never end.
I am the love of family and friend.
I am the child who has come to rest
In the arms of the Father who knows him best.
When you see the sunset fair,
I am the scented evening air.
I am the joy of a task well done.
I am the glow of the setting sun.
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die!"
...Author Mary Frye in 1932
Reportedly,it all began in 1862 during the 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 'Taps' 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 sky. As we go. This we know. God is nigh.
