11/15/11 Three members of the Marshall County Church Orchestra traveled to Elkhart, Indiana on Veteran’s Day to take part in their annual Echo Taps ceremony. Organizer Terry Vantine organized the event three years ago after hearing about Bugles Across America, a national nonprofit organization that stations buglers at military funerals.
Marshall County Church Orchestra trumpeter Cindy Flagg read about the echo taps event in a newspaper. Having also read about Bulges Across America Flagg knew this was something she wanted to participate in. She called Vantine and asked if she could be a part of the event. She then recruited her fellow orchestra trumpeters Jim Mechling of Argos and Elaine Vandall of Culver and they arranged their schedules so they could be in Elkhart at 7:30 a.m. on Nov. 11, Veteran’s Day.
Approximately 75 musicians met at the DAV in Elkhart. After breakfast and receiving instructions the buglers dispersed across the city by three luxurious excursion buses. Each bugler was assigned a number and was spaced approximately 25 feet apart. Precisely at 10:00 a.m. bugler number one began playing the poignant 24 notes of taps. As he finished his last three notes, bugler number two began the first three notes. This proceeded as taps echoed throughout the town as the last note was played. A flag bearer was assigned to each taps player.
Following the downtown ceremony the buglers were then bused to Rice Cemetery where a meaningful ceremony took place as old and young alike looked on as the American flag was lowered to half mast. All branches of the military were represented. There were also Civil War re-enactors present. Elkhart Mayor Dick Moore spoke as well as a representative from Congressman Joe Donnelly’s office. Precisely at noon the 75 musicians gathered to play taps one last time en masse. The group then returned to the DAV where they were treated to a lunch of homemade ham and beans and cornbread, fruit and desserts. Each taps participant received an echo taps t-shirt, a bugle pin and an honorary Bugles Across America medal.
Flagg, Mechling and Vandall considered it an honor to be included in the echo taps event. Flagg and Vandall both have family members who have served or are serving in the military. Mechling is a Navy veteran and has had the opportunity to play taps in the Marshall County area for military funerals.
Photo: Jim Mechling, Cindy Flagg and Elaine Vandall proudly pose with Officer Morris of the United States Army following the echo taps ceremony in downtown Elkhart.
