alone in the snow he plays the taps to honor those he never knew

Just had my dad’s funeral, Navy 22 yrs, I was holding it together until Taps was played by the bugler then the tears flowed freely. love you dad!

There shall never be a more solum and heart wrenching "tune" to honor the fallen than this one... God Bless the U.S. Marines 🇺🇸😔

If any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which taps was played; this brings out a new meaning of it. Here is something Every American should know. We in the United States have all heard the haunting song, 'Taps...' It's the song that gives us the lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes. But do you know the story behind the song? If not, I think you will be interested to find out about its humble beginnings. Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Elli 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 Elli 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.

I miss my dad. This was played at his funeral.

Taps is one of those haunting sounds that you never forget when you hear it the first time.

"Today marks my final role call with you. But I want you to know that when I cross the river my last conscious thoughts will be of the corps, and the corps, and the corps. I bid you farewell." -Gen Douglas MacArthur

I was curious about whether he was playing on a Bb or G bugle, so I played along on the piano. He's playing a Bb bugle, but since it's snowing, he is SUPER flat. Proof that he is actually playing in the cold to any naysayers.

I cry every time I hear taps. Lost so many friends !!!!

wow! chills up my arms when i hear that. One lone bugler among all those gravestohes For every soldier who rests underneath one of those stones, there is so much more there than just a body.

Let us never forget our fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, who served and paid the ultimate sacrifice. They not only protected and defended those who appreciated them...but more importantly, protected and defended those who did not.

One of the finest I have every heard, and I'm an old veteran. Thanks for serving our fallen service members!

Yesterday, we laid my father to rest. Taps was played by Air Force Honor Guard. We cried. I cannot think of a more beautiful and respectful way to send a veteran off to his/her rest. Good Bless America, warts and all. God Bless you, father. We love you and we love our country. Thank you. (salute)

Very sad and emotional. God be with those fallen and those retired. Amen!

such a short piece, thats a national treasure ! every American knows its time to be silent when its played.

Great, greetings from Berlin, Germany 🇩🇪🇺🇸!

Can't hear this without getting teary eyed. This was played at my grandfather's funeral and it tore me apart. God bless the fallen. May they never be forgotten.

No offence but the 44 folks that put a thumbs down ...y'all need to rethink your thinkin' ... jmo

To me... It's the most beautiful sound I've ever heard. I look forward to hearing this every night at 2200 before I go to sleep

I was searching something else. this is precious..

So hauntingly beautiful. This Vietnam war veteran honors all of our nation's fallen. Words are not enough.

That is the most haunting thing I've ever heard in my life. God bless all our fallen. Their names may be forgotten but their deeds shall always be remembered.

Love the sound of taps , but also sad sounding at the same time.RIP all hero's

Beautiful...bone-chilling every time I hear it. A tribute to the brave men and women and in a way saying thank you for tour service.

This was played at my grandfathers burial 9 years ago. It brings tears to my eyes to hear it again. I still remember my father, crying, but saluting.

Great Job! Plastic Mouthpiece is the smart move ,especially in the cold! Great Vibrato & phrasing. :)

Incredible. Unfortunately I must shudder at some ceremonies. Appreciate the effort of new recruits, trying their best on a trumpet. Therefore that bugle masterly, in freezing weather, is breathtaking.

I play bugle ( I have a g but looking for a Bb) and have played taps at a funeral and for flag ceremonies. I've heard it a thousand times and I've played it a thousand more, but every time I hear or play it, it sends chills down my spine.

Those first three notes can bring a seasoned combat veteran to tears

lump in throat. every time. salute.

Watched as the flag was folded and given to my grandmother followed by this tune, shattered me into pieces…. A day I’ll never forget

I cry everytime I hear it since my brother died!

each time I here TAPS I will always remember my comrades who fell at marawi here in the Philippines. you can call it guilt of the survivor.

Taps makes me cry every time I hear it. I can't help it.

11/11/1918 - 11/11/2018 100 years NEVER FORGET !

Literally tear up everytime I hear this.

When I was i basic at Fort Polk, they picked 7 of us and took us to East Texas to be an Honor Firing Squad for a fallen Veteran. I was OK until, after the Salute, a bugler started playing Taps from behind a tree a ways from the gravesite. I lost it. ANd so did other members of the Squad.

RIP Binnie Craig... love and miss you, grandpa.

So beautiful.

Well done, Soldier.

If hearing taps don't touch your heart than you don't have a heart.taps was played at my brother's funeral.everytime time I hear taps I can't help it brings tears to me

p.s. I miss my dad too.... taps helped seal it but it didn't remove it. God bless you and the families of other veterans.

What fortitude and devotion. I am humbled and you should be too.

Fading light dims the sight, And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright. From afar drawing nigh -- Falls the night. Day is done, gone the sun, From the lake, from the hills, from the sky; All is well, safely rest, God is nigh. Then good night, peaceful night, Till the light of the dawn shineth bright; God is near, do not fear - Friend, good night.

Good job for representing our fallen soldiers I respect you guys thank you for posting this

Whenever I hear this I think about my grandfather and it just tears me up inside.

The origin of "Taps" adds to the sorrow..its notes were found on a dead confederate soldier by his father, Captain Robert Ellicombe of the Union. So when Ellicombe found the notes on his dead sons body, he asked that it be played at his funeral on the Union side. The song was so simple and beautiful that it eventually made its way to being the official bugle call for not just the U.S, but many other nations today. - facts found in "That's not in My American History book" by award-winning columnist Thomas Ayres.

Taps please show respect.

Beautiful rendition. And a good day for a plastic mouthpiece :)

Day is done Gone the sun From the lakes, from the hills, from the sky All is well Safely rest God is nigh.

Beautiful in the most holy way. Thank you.

In memoriam of all the brave men and women who've answered the call of duty and given their lives in service of this proud country. We solute you. May you rest in peace.

Heart breaking sound goes through your heart and your soul 🙏

Never forget, Dec 7th, Nov 11th and on.

They played this at my Great grandpas funeral when he passed away for serving in WW2. It sends chills up me every time I hear it because I think of him.

Now that's how it's done! With honor, respect & reverance.

I am a bugler, and this is my new standard of perfection.

whoever disliked this video has. no heart as a man that serves his country this sound absolutely means everything to me

This is one, among many, that I miss from basic. To reflect on those who gave it their all while wearing the uniform.

Taps is incredibly hard to play correctly...this was perfect.

I feel like crying

Beautiful! He even had tremolo in his long notes! Micing was excellent. Dad played many a funeral at Arlington and even marched in the cold... French horn, Navy Band stationed at the Gun factory

My friend recently got exiled from the squad. I played this when he was leaving. Rip n shive

Taps is the most respectful of the bugle military songs in my opinion. It's easy, simple and to the point.

Beautifully done. (Hello from England.)

The two bugle calls that really rip into your heart, Taps and The Last Post.

To everyone watching this and thinking about the vast number of graves, know this: that field is just one tiny fraction of the size of that cemetery. ANC covers 624 acres and contains over a dozen more fields like this.

With that cold weather, his water key must've been full.

I just attended a military funeral for my grandma and they had to use a digital recording of Taps in the actual bugle because there aren't enough people that actually know how to play it. The recording started screwing up at the end which took a little out of the experience, and at first I thought the guy playing had completely shanked the notes. Still though, when that song played I couldn't help but cry my brains out. It makes you think about how much veterans sacrifice, especially WW2 ones like my grandma. The whole Golden Gate Veterans cemetery was mind blowing in how big and beautiful it is.

God speed my fallen brother, this Viet Nam disabled vet shall never forget.. Rest now, your watch is over...POW-MIA

So sad and heart renching

thank u for these taps

they will always be our brothers

This gave me goosebumps....

What a great song to play in Arlington

I'm in the military, and am on the honor guard sometimes, and have done dozens of funerals. Sometimes there's a bugler, sometimes there isn't. But everything always gets a lot more sad when he starts playing...

Its sounds so much better on the bugle than on anything else

Good night campers. Good night staff. Lights out.

very beautiful.

in those very cold challenging conditions, that is awesome,, well played

Beautiful!

Wonderfully done.

There are over a 1000 American military installations around the world. Taps is played every night at nine pm. That's over 300000 times taps is played every year. That's not counting military funerals. That is a lot of taps.

wow. that's beautiful

This is the saddest, loneliest thing I've ever heard.

I can play this on my trumpet. I was gonna play this and my Uncles funeral because he died of lung cancer and was a veteran. So i am gonna play it at my dads funeral.

A Blessed event

Yeah it shows respect

My dad, who served in The United States Army Air Corps and eventually in The United States Air Force, always had respect for the enemy. I guess that's why he married my mom, who was Japanese. And to note: I served in The United States Army from July 31,1973 to June 30, 1981.

This and "The last call" are very sobering and haunting songs. At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the guns fell silent on the western front. "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun in the morning we will remember them."

Outstanding !

In Honor of my Brother 1964 - 2008

#RIP #USMC #Soldiers..,#BlackhawkDown#Florida... "Some Gave all"..........

God bless the memory and the families of our Fallen Soldiers, in Jesus name!!!

*Appears, and glares.*

In the snow imagine how chilled and frozen your lips are.

RIP Grandpa (Corregidor and Bataan), RIP Dad (Inchon), RIP Uncle T (Chosin), RIP Uncle B (I Corp Nam), RIP Uncle J (II Corp Nam), RIP Uncle A (Hamburger Hill Nam), and to our families 219 years of military service.

United States Armed Forces Senior Branch exemplifying leadership.

Hearing this always kills me.

In school our music teacher played it in 2 minutes of silence