THE FOLLOWING IS A VERMILION COUNTY WAR MUSEUM RELEASE
(ABOVE) Jocelyn Hammond, Harold Puzey and Keith Strinmoen are pictured at last year’s Cascading Taps event, sponsored by the Danville Lions Club.
The second season of “Taps on Tuesday” begins on the day after Memorial Day, May 30th and will continue weekly through the Tuesday following Labor Day, September 5th. The weekly program at 6:00 p.m. is modeled after the “One Hundred Nights of Taps” held in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and features brief patriotic readings and stories, followed by the sounding of “Taps.”
Most of the weekly programs will be held on the front lawn of the Vermilion County War Museum at 307 North Vermilion Street in Danville. In case of rain, the programs will be moved inside. Taps on Tuesday group member, Greg Green said, “Since we’re in the Land of Lincoln, our first program again this year will feature the reading of the “Gettysburg Address,” and one program each month will focus on Abraham Lincoln and his legacy.”
Local Historian Tim Smith was featured at Spring Hill Cemetery last year, as he presented a program at the gravesite of Civil War Veteran and Attorney, B.F. Cook. Cook was instrumental in obtaining military pensions for local Civil War veterans. Smith will join the group again this year at Atherton Cemetery.
On the third Tuesday of June, July and August, “Taps on Tuesday” will be held at local cemeteries. The June program will be at Atherton Cemetery, in July at the National Cemetery, and on the third Tuesday of August at Spring Hill Cemetery.
The events are presented by the Ward Hill Lamon Civil War Roundtable and the Vermilion County War Museum Society. Larry Weatherford, who has participated in the Taps events in Gettysburg, and who started “Taps on Tuesday” in Danville, said, “So many people have told me that each time they hear Taps, it touches them deeply, just like it affects me. There’s just something about those twenty-six notes that evokes emotions and memories. It makes you stop where you are, listen, honor and remember.”
Susan Miceli-Green, who is one of the presenters at the Taps programs commented that, “The sound of Taps seems to echo inside your chest and reminds you of loved ones who have served and have been laid to rest. And it also can remind you to say a prayer for those who are currently serving.”
Amanda Staub, a member of the Taps team that presents the programs said, “We were very pleased with the attendance last year, and we invite everyone to join us for a few minutes on a Tuesday evening to honor America and especially those who have served in our military.” Staub’s son, Vince is a member of the JROTC at Danville High School and serves as the Taps Bugler at many of the programs.
Weatherford said, “We feature guest speakers and buglers at some of our weekly events and plan a “Cascading Taps” program with three buglers again this year. Our core team includes Tara Auter, Greg Green, Susan Miceli-Green, Amanda and Vince Staub, J.C. Switzer, Rhea Weatherford and Becky and Alan Woodrum. We also have many attendees who join us each week and have become like members of our extended family.”
