Memorial Day 2009 - The Seventh Memorial Day of the Present Phase of the Iraq War

I'll be joining several other buglers later today at the National Cemetary at Ft. Richardson. We will be gathered in a large circle around the memorial park. One by one, the buglers will begin playing Taps at intervals. Eventually, the entire circle will play the ode as a sad but compelling round.

We will honor our fallen in this ceremony at noon.

Here is a link to a performance of my work based on Taps, called Shards. The performance of the version called Shards II, was recorded in Haines Alaska, on September 1, 2007. That performance was dedicated to the memory of Sgt. 1st Class Daniel E. Scheibner, 40, of Muskegon, Michigan. A story about his life is here.

This reposting of Shards II is dedicated to the memory of our most recently announced Iraq War dead. They are:


Sgt. Paul F. Brooks, 34, of Joplin, Mo. He was a National Guardsman assigned to the 935th Aviation Support Battalion, Springfield, Missouri... died May 21 near Baghdad, Iraq of wound sustained when their unit was attacked...using IED
05/24/09

First Lieutenant Leevi K. Barnard, 28, of Mount Airy, N.C. He was a National Guardsman assigned to the 252nd Combined Arms Battalion.... died May 21 near Baghdad, Iraq of wound sustained when their unit was attacked...using IED
05/24/09

Major Jason E. George, 38, of Tehachapi, Calif. He was an Army Reservist assigned to the 252nd Combined Arms Battalion, Fayetteville, North Carolina... died May 21 near Baghdad, Iraq of wound sustained when their unit was attacked...using IED 05/24/09

image - Sitka National Cemetery (Progressive Alaska)