Page 184 - a-columbia-county-boys-recollections-and-memories-of-columbia-county-florida-(2012)-lenvil-h-dicks

A Columbia County Boy's Recollections and Memories of Columbia County Florida (2012) Lenvil H. Dicks

PLAYING TAPS

During my lifetime I have played Taps at military funeral services on many occasions, numbering in the
th
dozens if not the hundreds. The last 3 or 4 months 1 was in the 5 Army Division band, on two or three
days each week I would be sent to some cemetery either in South Carolina or North Carolina, on a bus
with a rifle squad, to give the final salute to a deceased veteran, and they were shipping men back from
Europe who had been killed in World War II on a very regular basis at that time.

Naturally, I did not know any of the families of any of these deceased soldiers, but their families always
seemed to be extremely appreciative of my playing Taps, and would frequently seek me out and thank
me. I do not know how many of these funerals I attended, but it was more than a few.

After I moved back to Florida from Texas, 1 would still be called upon to play Taps at a military funeral
quite often, perhaps averaging 3 or 4 per year during all of that time.

About halfway between Lake Butler and Sanderson there is a cemetery called Swift Creek Cemetery,
and it is not more than about 3 miles from Palestine Lake where I used to go fishing when 1 was Band
Director at Lake Butler. In 2009 my good friend Merrill Williams passed away, and his graveside
services were at Swift Creek Cemetery, and I was asked to go and play Taps as part of the services.
There was a small Magnolia Tree about 50 feet from his grave, and 1 stood under that tree and played
Taps. Since Merrill had been such a good friend, it was one of the more difficult things I have had to do.

Then, in 2011 my very close and good friend, Doyle Cason, passed away, and I was asked to play Taps
at the graveside for him also, a more than sad experience.

The grave where he was buried is in the same part of the cemetery where Merrill Williams was buried,
and I stood under the same little Magnolia tree to play Taps for Doyle, that I stood under when I played
for Merrill.

That is the last two times 1 played Taps for a deceased veteran, and very likely it will be the last time
that I ever perform Taps. I just have no wish to do it anymore.

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