Saturday (Friday in the U.S.), in a funeral for a person who had served 22 years in the U.S. Air Force, "Taps" was played. Several servicemen came to do the flag-folding ceremony for the bereaved wife. Some people know there are lyrics to "Taps" and are familiar with the first few lines--"Day is done, Gone the sun"--but do they know the stanza ends: "God is nigh"?
For that matter, how many people have heard stanzas 2 and 3 of "Taps"? I just found out about them this year!
2. Fading light dims the sight /And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright /From afar, drawing near /Falls the night.
3. Thanks & praise for our days /'Neath the sun, 'neath the stars, 'neath the sky /As we go, this we know: / God is nigh.
When all other lights go out, an eternal STAR shines bright--what sure hope there is for the soul to whom God is nigh!
