78 Year Old Tacoma WA Man, Every Evening, Plays Taps from his Balcony, and his Neighbors Love it...

[trailmonkee]

I saw this on CBS 'Sunday Morning' and thought it was a beautiful example of non-military folks honoring the fallen, and giving thanks for what they have given us... a different kind of Veteran's Day story... Video at link



(CBS News) TACOMA, Wash. - Residents of a quiet little neighborhood in Tacoma have been hearing something wonderful for the past couple of years just as the sun begins to set over Puget Sound. That something is a song. Twenty-four of the most poignant notes ever strung together, "Taps."

One neighborhood resident said "when you hear the first note, everything in our house comes to a complete halt."

Another resident said that they "kind of let it wash over [them]."

Although the notes have been played before, everywhere from military funerals to Boy Scout campfires, rarely is "Taps" heard coming off of a back porch in a suburban neighborhood.

Don Brittain has been playing trumpet since he was a kid. He even played in a band for a while, but he's never taken it as seriously as he does now.

"I'm in another zone when I am playing," said Don. "I'm not aware of anything other than the fact that I'm playing this and I'm trying to play it as best as I can."

Every morning the 78-year-old retired aerospace worker checks the paper to see when the sunset is and every afternoon he practices for his nightly performance.

Don mostly does this in appreciation for our military.

"[I want to] support our guys who are over there fighting" said Don. "I had polio as a kid so I couldn't serve."

more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57530063/nightly-taps-makes-neighbors-take-notice

[Aristus]

1. Beautiful gesture from this guy. Thank you, and salute!

I love T-Town...

[skeewee08]

2. Thank you Mr. Brittain........

[Laffy Kat]

3. Thank you for sharing this this morning.

Most poignant. Who can listen to Taps without getting misty?

[Frustratedlady]

4. I wish he lived near me. I would love to pause in remembrance.

We are of the same generation and I can see him doing this. It is so touching that he found this a way to DAILY honor our miitary.

We all need that reminder to pause, reflect and be grateful for what we have and for those who made sure we could keep it.

Bless Don.

[Libertas1776]

5. Wow

very moving. thanks for posting this.

[reformist2]

6. Nice sentiment, but personally I'd find it depressing to hear that every day.

[trailmonkee]

7. I think the fact that it coincides with the sunset would help

[jp11]

8. All my stupid neighbors do is play their crappy music with their trunk box subwoofers blasting the

same dull droning of bass as they sit in front of their house in the car for half an hour minimum.

[JackN415]

9. saxophonist on the balcony to go with a fiddler on the roof?