those 24 notes....

yesterday was 9/11 as everyone knows...

and the corp does an amazing thing when they honor fallen heroes...

last night we had a formation, that was OPTIONAL (key word) at 2200 (10 pm). it was a silent formation, which basically means that there is no talking as you fall in and give commands.

it had rained all day off and on so it was chilly and wet, band company, every single one of us, in our gray dress jackets marched in the gutter as we made our way to the company area. As we marched i noticed that it seemed like every single person in the corp was there, and i am almost positive they were, like i said before this was an optional formation, lights out is at 2200 so they could have stayed in there dorms and gone to sleep, but no, everyone was there. we stood in silence for about five min until the Regimental commander called us all to attention and present arms.

shortly there after, the buglers began echo taps, after each fade of the first bugle you could hear the echo of the other as it proceeded off in the distance, the sound of those 24 notes brought back those memories of six years ago, setting in my science class in seventh grade, watching in horror as the video footage of the World Trade Center as it burned and and smoke came boiling out of it, and then the next aircraft came crashing into the WTC, then the collapse of the towers, the pentagon, and the Pennsylvania Field, and the following weeks of confusion, aggravation and unity that we all experienced.

it is amazing how those 24 notes can bring tears to your eyes, or light a fire in you. how they can inspire you to not let those who died, die in vain. how it is just one instrument. a trumpet/bugle, just playing 24 notes. most of which are repeated, but yet it is such an amazing call, and it is so haunting that once you hear it, you know exactly what it is for.   

as taps came to a close, my mind was refreshed with the exact reason i came here; to serve my country, to give my life if need be for this great nation, to honor those brave men and women that died that day, and all the days since, in protection of our right to live as free people, with out fear of attack or persecution.

once we were given the command of order arms, the bagpipes began amazing grace, and then we were dismissed the exact way we came, silently.

Comments

[mom of ROTC cadet]

Wow! You brought tears to my eyes and I almost felt like I was there with all of you. God bless all of you for what you are doing for our country. Thank you for a great Post!! Keep up the great work.

[a parent]

Micah, I was moved by your words. By the way, were other NU students and personnel there as well?

[Mom of Cadet in Bravo]

very moving post, from a very mature man...you are a blessing.

[Linda Ellsworth]

Micah, you have amazed me with these words. How mature you are and how proud I am to have you as a friend to my family. I am so proud of you and my daughter for what you are doing for our country. You both inspire me. Thank you for keeping me close. I'm sure your parents are proud also. Keep up the great work.

[Micah Ward]

yes i believe there were some faculty and some traditional students there as well standing around the out side.. thank you all for your comments

[jake]

Great post. Good to see the future of the Corps is shaping up nicely. Echo taps is indeed something special. Keep up the good work, and whenever you feeling down...make a visit to the library, and look through the yearbooks at those who went before you. You can do it. "Faithful to the past"

Hays
I Co
1994

[a parent]

What a solemn celebration of LIFE. What you guys do must seem like drudgery at times. But, you do have some "mountain-top" moments. How else would survive the stuff that happens in the "valley" below? Thank you for celebrating and honoring the lives of the past, present, and the yet to be.

[kson]

Ward,
Thanks for writing this post. You really captured the essence of the event, and I don't think anyone could have described any better. Keep up the good work!

RCT Son

[marilyn]

You did indeed put so many of our feelings into perfect words... I feel so proud to be able to read your blogs.. hopefully one day meet you.. I am certain you have already formed a very special bond with all your Rook Brothers, Sisters and all of Band Co..
A grandmother of a Cadre. Thank you..

[cadetmom]

This is a post I always refer back to just to visualize, and wonder what happened to you and if you are still studying at Norwich. There were some tough times ahead but hopefully you made it through. As a parent of a rook who stuck it out, we just told him to suck it up, deal with the stuff, and put on his big boy pants because it's not an easy world. My best to you and God bless.