Reflections of a Girl at School

So I have been at school now for over a month. I feel that I am adjusting okay, but I don't really know. I'm unsure of my major, but I have found great friends, and am enjoying dorm life for the most part. However, my reflection today doesn't really have anything to do with school. I want to talk about honoring our country, and more importantly those who have given their lives for this country that they love.

I had tohe honor of going to a military funeral yesterday (Tuesday) and performing Taps at the burial service. This may not seem like a big deal, but you have no idea how huge of an impact those 21 notes have on the family and other people who have served with the fallen. Now, I have played at multiple military funeral, but none of those times had quite the impact on me as this one. As I was walking across the field to speak with the legion after the service the family came over to me in tears thanking me for taking my time away from school to come play.

As I was driving back to Wartburg I received a call from my mom. There was a message on the home phone from a vet and former bugler. He had said he was so thankful to hear someone play and not try to anything fancy with it. What really got me was he also said that it is the best Taps he has heard in 30 years. I never knew what an impact me taking a little time out of my day to play my trumpet to honor vets impacted people so much.

What can you do to honor someone who has given up so much that we can live a free life that we so love today? Thanking them is great, but if you are able to play those haunting 21 notes, you don't really know what you can do. I have now joined the organization Buglers Across America. It is an organization dedicated to providing buglers for military funerals. What really hit home for me was when I got back to campus. Speaking with Doc, he told me that he was extremly proud of me for going out to do this. I did not know the military would send a cd to families of those who have passed on so that they could have a trumpet sounding Taps played, but that is so emotionless and not as haunting as the real life sound of a metal trumpet from a distance floting heavy and haunting over other graves across the graveyard.

My challenge to you, if you cannot play Taps, or don't have an interest in that type of thing, is to thank a vet or active military member every chance you get. There sacrifice is unknown to us unless you expierence it for yourself first hand.

Well, enough ranting for right now. It's time to hit the books since I am paying thousands of dollars to become educated. I must do all that I can to be successful. Be on the watch for more blogs soon

Keep smiling!

Kelli J. Lair