The sound of a bugle playing “Taps” took on added meaning as Martinsburg VA Medical Center in West Virginia marked Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day on Dec. 7.
That’s because Air Force veteran John Gordon, 90, offered to play “Taps” at the flag poles in front of the medical center to honor those who lost their lives when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor 81 years ago, plunging the United States into World War II.
“It’s not about me,” he explained in a VA release. “It’s about them.”
Gordon is a Martinsburg native who served 28 years during the Korea and Vietnam conflict eras. When he retired from the military and returned home, he traded his high school band trumpet for a bugle.
The retired schoolteacher said his mission is to teach others about veterans, service members, and their dedication to the nation. As a member of Taps Across America, Gordon has played “Taps” in the community for the past two years. He also recites the pledge of allegiance.
“I usually single out the youngest person in the crowd for the pledge,” Gordon said. “I do that so the young people get involved, learn the importance of why I do this.”
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With each passing year, the nation loses more of its treasured World War II veterans. Martinsburg VA currently has less than 1,000 enrolled World War II veterans, five of whom now call the Community Living Center their home.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
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