“Taps” is a bugle call played at dusk, during flag ceremonies, and at military funerals by the United States Armed Forces. The tune is also sometimes known as “Butterfield’s Lullaby” or by the first line of the lyrics, “Day is Done.”
Taps originally began as a signal to extinguish lights.
Steve Hartman, broadcast journalist introduced “Taps Across America” for Memorial Day this year. The idea was to hold an event at 3:00, May 26th whereby individuals across the country played Taps at the designated hour as a mini-lesson in Patriotism. The response to his idea/invitation was amazing. Thousands and thousands of buglers across the nation and the world responded; men, women and children. It was truly spectacular and was a reminder that we are one people, one nation.
After showing our best how sad that after such a tribute Minneapolis now has to activate the National Guard because we have again shown our worst. Violent protests continue after yet another black man was killed while in police custody. And yet many still suggest that there is not a race problem in America. It is time for some honest soul searching and a lot of praying as we confess this sin.
Since the colonial era white Americans were given legal and social privileges and rights that were denied to other races and minorities. These exclusions for Blacks included areas such as education, voting rights, citizenship, land acquisition, housing, employment and criminal procedure. — Yes other ethic groups suffered discrimination in the early centuries of our nation, but much of that has changed for those who are White; people of color still face discrimination every day.
Racism is the great sin of our nation and there is no end in sight. In 2020 there are active hate groups in every single state of America. It is time for those for claim to be Christian to step up and speak out. Enough is enough.
Let us pray:
Good and gracious God, you invite us to recognize and reverence your divine image and likeness in our neighbor. Enable us to see the reality of racism and free us to challenge and uproot it from our society, our world and ourselves. In Jesus’ name. Amen
The Rev. Ellen Meissgeier