“Taps” is sounded nightly by the U S military to indicate that it is “lights out”. It is played on bugle or trumpet during flag ceremonies and at the conclusion of most military funerals. The tune in its present form was arranged by Union Army Brigadier General Daniel Butterfield.
When "Taps" is sounded at a funeral, it is customary for serving members of the military or veterans to salute. The corresponding gesture for civilians is to place the right hand over the heart.
Safely Rest:
Pfc Brandon L. Buttry
I Got The News Today (IGTNT) , which began in April of 2004, is one of the oldest continuous series on Daily Kos and provides members of this community a venue to pay their respects to those who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The IGTNT title is a reminder that nearly every day the family of an active duty service member receives the terrible news that their beloved has died.
Since 2001 we have lost 2150 American troops in Afghanistan and a total of 3221 American and coalition forces.
Amazing Grace and Taps
Performed at Arlington National Cemetery
Day is done...Gone the sun
From the lake...
From the hills...
From the sky.
All is well...Safely rest
God is nigh.
.
About the IGTNT series:
.
Pfc, Brandon L. Buttry, 19 of Shenandoah, Iowa
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Pfc. Brandon L. Buttry, 19, of Shenandoah, Iowa, died Nov. 5, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.
Buttry was assigned to 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. ~ DoD News Release
Before dawn on Monday morning, Don and Pam Buttry of Shenandoah, Iowa answered a knock at their door and got the news from the U.S. Army officers -- the news that their son, Brandon had died in Afghanistan. They soon gathered Brandon's siblings together to break the sad news to them, all 13 of them.
Soon the word spread out among aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, church family, neighbors and the community -- Brandon is gone. He was killed in Afghanistan.
Pfc. Buttry's family said he had always wanted to serve his country in the military, even knowing his country had been at war with Afghanistan since he was 8 years old. Brandon earned his high school test-based equivalency certificate in 2011 and enlisted in the Army in 2012. He reported to Fort Benning for Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training MOS 11B (Infantryman). Upon graduation from AIT, he arrived at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., in May 2012 and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment. He deployed to Afghanistan in July 2012 and joined the 3rd Stryker Brigade in Afghanistan. This was his first deployment. He had earned his combat infantry badge in October.
Brandon Buttry came from an incredible family, a close knit family that consists of a mix of 14 biological and adopted children who hail from four different countries and range in age from 11 to 36. Brandon was adopted by Don and Pam in 1996 at the age of three.
Parents, Don and Pam Buttry already had three biological children when they viewed a program about starving children in Romania at the end of the Cold War. They immediately tried and failed to adopt a child from Romania, so instead they adopted five children from South Korea, one child from Vietnam, one from Guatemala, three from Alabama and one, Brandon, from Iowa.
Family friend, Chris Goodell said all the children flowered in the embrace of the Buttry family.
They’re an extraordinary family. All of their kids are real hard workers, real pleasant and real sweet kids.
All the adopted children, some of whom have physical and mental disabilities, have been home-schooled by Pam and Don.
Every Sunday, the household attends services at Memorial Baptist Church where they fill a section of back pews which Pastor Mike Brogran dubbed "The Buttry Corner".
After church, Don and most of the children would gather around the TV to cheer on the Minnesota Vikings, but not Brandon. He rooted for the Philadelphia Eagles and did his share of trash talking with his siblings.
Brandon's uncle, Steve Buttry, a former World-Herald reporter and now editor for Digital First Media said:
He had a bit of a contrarian streak in him. A twinkle in his eye. A mischievous smile on his face.
I think she (Pam) was always worried about getting the news that we got today. They are devastated. But they have a strong faith and a strong family, and they will get through this.
Several times the whole clan piled into the family van and traveled cross country, all wearing matching orange T-shirts to cheer on older sisters Missy and Mandy at their cross-country and track meets. Missy Buttry subsequently became one of the best long-distance runners in the country. She qualified for the US Olympic Trials and finished eighth in the trial's 5000-meter even in 2004. She is currently married to Andrew Rock, a 2004 Olympic gold medal winner.
Pastor Brogan said on Monday:
He just wanted to serve his country and make a difference. He felt like joining [the Army] would allow him to contribute something to America. It's probably about that simple and that complicated.
Shenandoah Mayor Richard “Dick” Hunt:
This is a very sad time for this community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Pfc Brandon L. Buttry's awards and decorations include National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal.
Brandon Buttry is survived by his parents and siblings Mandy, Luke, Missy, Zach, Macey, Austin, Shantelle, Shamelia, Micah, Noah, Savannah, Moses and Shanya.
Funeral services have not yet been announced.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
.
About the IGTNT series:
"I Got the News Today" is a diary series intended to honor, respect, and remind us of the sacrifice of our US troops. Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Sandy on Signal, noweasels, monkeybiz, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, SisTwo, SpamNunn, TrueBlueMajority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, maggiejean, kestrel9000, TheFatLadySings, Ekaterin and me, JaxDem.
These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but are an important service to those who have died, and show our community’s respect for them. Diaries about the fallen usually appear two days after their names are officially released, which allows time for the IGTNT team to find and tell their stories.
Sgt Bowe R. Bergdahl
The only known current Prisoner of War is Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl, 26 who was captured by the Taliban in June of 2009. Five propaganda videos featuring Bergdahl have been released by the Taliban. A website has been established with the most up-to-date information on Sgt. Bergdahl.
Please keep good thoughts and prayers for Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl.
.
Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members mentioned here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.