George Harris was the guest speaker at the Simpson United Methodist Church, Gordon, on Sunday for a special Memorial day service.
Mr. Harris, a veteran himself, shared about the history of memorial day and of TAPS.
"Memorial day is many things to many people but it is truly a tribute to those who have given their lives while serving", Mr. Harris shared.
After sharing a brief history of the evolution of Decoration Day into the Memorial day we celebrate he gave the history of TAPS.
Sharing a moving story from the civil war of how a bugler transformed a borrowed French tune into what we know today he told how there are no "official lyrics but 3 versions". TAPS is played at the lowering of the American flag, end of the day, and at military burials. In Mr. Harris's own words, "of all bugle calls, TAPS is the most emotional."
Following Mr. Harris's message the congregation sang the national hymn, God of our Father's.
Photos and Story by Jimmie Lue Smallwood
