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
