Katie
Prior was learning to play the trumpet, just as her great-grandfather, a
veteran, was placed on hospice care. Her family had high hopes that Katie would
learn to play Taps for his funeral. The 24-note song was a tradition that began
during the Civil War. It was the military’s way of saying, “You served, you
mattered, you will be remembered.” Katie diligently practiced, but her
great-grandfather passed away before she had mastered the notes to the song. It
troubled Katie that a recording of Taps was played at his funeral. When she was
14, Katie learned that more than 1,500 veterans die every day and that there are
not enough buglers to play at the funerals. Not pleased with that, she founded
the Youth Trumpet and Taps Corps as her project for her Girl Scout Gold Award.
Katie recruited young trumpeters, all across America, to volunteer to play Taps
for military funerals in their communities for free. The trumpeters also take a
class on military funeral etiquette on how to stand, dress, and respect the families.
Every time Katie plays for a military funeral, she thinks about her
great-grandfather, Wilford Foresee. She says, “I wish I would have gotten to
play Taps for him. But I’d like to think that every time I play Taps at someone
else’s funeral, I am in part playing it for him as well.”
Every Tuesday
morning, Margaret walks into the care center in her town carrying a canvas bag
full of colorful, mismatched socks. At first the workers and residents were
confused. This was the same place Margaret’s husband, Julian, had spent the
last days of his life. One of the last things he mentioned was, “I just wish
someone had stayed a little longer than it took to change the IV.” After
cleaning out his room, Margaret went to the store and bought 30 pairs of socks
– checkered, striped, sailboats, and bright colors. After washing the socks,
she placed them in the canvas bag. Upon her arrival at the care center,
Margaret went from room to room. She would pull out two pair of socks and ask
which one they preferred. After giving the socks to the person, Margaret would
spend time visiting before going to the next room. Mr. Sterling had not spoken to anyone for
weeks. When Margaret pulled out a pair of socks with sunflowers, he reminisced,
“My mother used to plant those every June.” For four years now, the “Sock Lady”
has spent every Tuesday at the care center. Families, doctors, and workers have
all noticed a difference in the response of the residents. The local boutique
began donating socks, as well as other groups in town. Margaret has said, “The
socks were never the point. The point was the presence.”
May we, too, be
encouraged to share love and good deeds.
And let us
consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
Hebrews 10:24
