WORDS OF, AND WHERE THE LAST POST COMES FROM.
Today I am going to tell you about this wonderful song that had the most humble beginnings.
I really think all children should know, as most of them have heard this on television or been at a military funeral.
I am sure there are people who know where it comes from but I really think we should teach our children this.
We want our children to do something that they really love. This is what happened to this young boy.
As I have the story it all started in the American Civil War in 1862.
The captain of the Union army named Robert Ellicombe was with his men near the Harrison’s Landing in Virginia.
On the other side was the Confederate Army.
He was a father and during the night he heard some moaning coming from the field where they had fought.
It was a soldier moaning because he was in a lot of pain.
The Captain did not know from which side the soldier was, but being a decent human being he decided to crawl nearer and pulled the soldier to their medical tent for help.
It was a Confederate Soldier, but when he looked he saw it was his own son, who had not told him that he was going to war.
He knew his son always loved writing music, and he was heartbroken when the boy died.
In his pocket he found some music that the boy had written and then asked the Union Soldiers if they would give him a military funeral.
They said it is not the way we do things, but also being fair because it was his son they did agree.
He then showed them the music that he found in his sons pocket and asked if a band could play it at the funeral.
They said no but he could pick one instrument and that they will allow.
They gave him just one musician and he picked a Bugler.
The music from the last post was born here as these were the notes that were in his son’s pocket.
He had even put words to them, but that is something we never use.
Up to this day we have this wonderful Last Post at military funerals and even if I do not know who had died, it gives me goose flesh.
I am putting the words in here but they are beautiful. 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!!!
It is so heart breaking to think that the father thought that his son was still studying music in the south and he did not even know that he was fighting against him.
I really think we should teach our children where it came from, and like I said , let your children do what they love most.
If it not for this love of music we might never have had this wonderful tradition at all military funerals.
I really hope you enjoyed this true story and be thankful for one man who loved his music.
