Taps for our heroes
"They fought for us; for us they fell. Now with one accord, in
deepest reverence, we do them honor."
- Ret. Air Force Col. John O’Connor, Commander,
American Legion Post 115
By RON SOBLE
Express Editor
Under a mostly sunny sky on Monday morning, the haunting notes of
"Taps" sounded true and clear across the Ketchum Cemetery, marking a Memorial
Day ceremony that was echoed across the nation in honor of those who fought—and
died—for America.
This year, the "Taps" torch was passed to 12-year-old Connor
Wade of Ketchum who played the legendary notes originally sounded by a Civil War bugler.
For years, the honor had belonged to Wood River Valley jazz musician
Jimmie Limes, himself a Navy veteran, who died in January.
"He taught me ‘Taps’ last year," Connor Wade said.
"I sort of perfected it with him. He was a really good teacher."
About 50 people gathered for the brief ceremony presented by
Ketchum’s American Legion Post No. 115.
Old Glory fluttered from several grave markers as a
light wind kicked up. More than 100 veterans are buried in the cemetery, which dates to
the Civil War.
"They fought for us; for us they fell," Ret. Air Force Col. John
O’Connor, 66, of Sun Valley, a Vietnam War veteran and the post commander, told the
gathering. "Now with one accord, in deepest reverence, we do them honor."
Veterans of World War II and the Korean and Vietnam conflicts stood at
attention as an eight-veteran squad fired the traditional three-round salute. Ret. Army
Col. Ed McGowan of Ketchum, a special forces Vietnam veteran, who also served in Korea and
World War II, commanded the unit.
Firing World War II vintage M-1 rifles were John Palmer, Jim Hitson, Bob
Michaud, Joe Miczulski, Tom Johnson, Cliff Noxon and John Robertson.
"It’s sentimental," reflected McGowan, 78, after the
ceremony. "I had a lot of friends killed in these wars."
