military traditions

[macwilkin]

Well, "Taps" is called "The Last Post" in the UK and Commonwealth countries, and certainly is played.

There are quite a number of laments that can be played, too many to list. "Flowers of the Forest" and "The Mist Covered Mountains of Home" are certainly two of the most popular. The piper played these and "Oft in the Stilly Nicht" when my father was buried.

Individual companies of the Scottish Regiments also had their own pipe tune; Diana Henderson's The Scottish Regiments lists them for each of the regiments (before the 2006 amalgamation), as well as a number of other regimental customs and traditions.

In reference to the folding of the US flag, my Chief Ranger, who worked at a number of Indian War historic sites, once told me that custom really didn't begin until the 1930s; before then, the garrison flag was simply folded or even rolled into a ball. I will be happy to ask him for sources regarding his research.

That being said, the symbolism behind it, regardless of its date of adoption, is very meaningful.

Regards,

Todd