'Il Silencio' (The Silence - "Taps") played by 13 year old Melissa Venema...

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You should read and listen to this.  

 

“A  few years ago, I visited the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in the village of Margraten , about six miles from Maastricht. There lie buried are 8,301 American soldiers killed in  the battles to liberate Holland in the fall and winter of 1944-5.  Sgt. Bill Dukeman, 101st Airborne Division,  506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Second Battalion, Company C  (of "Band of Brothers fame) is buried there. He was killed in the battle of "The Crossroads" in northern Holland . 

 

The Dutch hold an annual memorial concert every September at the above cemetery to remember and honor the Americans who died to free them in Operation Market Garden and subsequent efforts to eject the German army from Holland.  Sgt. Dukeman, like many other fallen GIs, was "adopted" by a Dutch family.  Dukeman's family in the States was contacted and hosted in Holland, and his gravesite decorated each year by his Dutch "family."  They keep his portrait in their home, displayed in a place of honor.  Fathers pass this obligation down to their sons in Holland . 

 

This version of the original "taps" music is played by a 13-year-old Dutch girl named Melissa Venema.  Enjoy. 

 

The Silence: Original TAPS [Last Post] 

 

The conductor of the orchestra is  Andre Rieu of Holland .  The young
lady, her trumpet, and her rendition of TAPS  makes  your hair stand
on end. 

 

Many of you may never have heard taps played in its entirety.  For all of the men and women that have died for us to have the freedom we have in America.  This is an opportunity you won't want to miss and I guarantee you'll never forget.  Amazingly beautiful. 

 

Here  is Taps played in its entirety. The original version of Taps was called Last Post and was written by Daniel Butterfield in 1801.
It was rather lengthy and formal, as you will hear in this clip, but, in 1862 it was shortened to 24 notes and re-named Taps. 

 

The original was played on a bugle.” 

'Il Silenzio' - Melissa Venema (13 yo)