![\"This](\"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Taps-at-Veterans-550x309.jpg\")
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\nThe story below is originally from NorthJersey.com and NBC Nightly News, and I\u2019m thrilled to included it here (I was raised in New Jersey and earned my Eagle rank there). Our friend \u201cBryan on Scouting\u201d also published this. Enjoy!<\/p>\n
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\u201cSometimes music can say more than words.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWhen a 13-year-old New Jersey Scout learned that 37 people had died from the coronavirus at a veterans\u2019 home near his house, he wanted to offer his own kind of tribute.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAlex Saldana, a Life Scout in Troop 36 of Oradell, NJ (Northern New Jersey Council) stood outside the New Jersey Veterans Home in Paramus and played \u2018Taps\u2019 on his trumpet. The song, often played at bedtime during Scout campouts, is commonly part of military funerals as well.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAlex got as close to the veterans home entrance as the National Guard troops stationed there would allow; then he began playing.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201c\u2019I know it\u2019s very hard for them right now, and they made the ultimate sacrifice for this country,\u2019 Alex told NorthJersey.com. \u2018I wanted to show respect and give them a sign of hope throughout this outbreak and sad time.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAlex doesn\u2019t intend this to be a one-time tribute. He plans to continue playing \u2018Taps\u2019 and the Marine Corps hymn every night for as many nights as he can. \u2018I\u2019m hoping it will start to give them hope that things will get better,\u2019 Alex told NBC News, \u2018(and) that they\u2019re not forgotten.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThis act of respect and recognition for these fallen heroes gained national attention when it was featured in the April 9 broadcast of the NBC Nightly News.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAlex is the official Troop 36 Bugler, a position of responsibility that allows him to use his four years of trumpeting experience to help his troop and now his community. He plays \u2018Taps\u2019 at every meeting and campout.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAlex chose to play at the veterans\u2019 home because the place already has a special connection for him. His dad, David, is a veteran himself, having served in the United States Marine Corps.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Thank you, Alex, and thanks, Dad and Mom, for raising such a fine son. Semper Fi!<\/p>\n Till next week, please stay safe, stay healthy, and stay positive!<\/strong><\/em><\/span> Have a question? Facing a dilemma? Wondering where to find a BSA policy or guideline? Write to askandybsa@yahoo.com. Please include your name and council. (If you\u2019d prefer to be anonymous, if published, let me know and that\u2019s what we\u2019ll do.)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Although these columns are copyrighted, any reader has my permission to quote or reproduce any columns or column parts so long as you attribute authorship: \u201cAsk Andy\u201d by Andy McCommish.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n [No. 637 \u2013 4\/14\/2020 \u2013 Copyright \u00a9 Andy McCommish 2020]<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ________________________________________ The story below is originally from NorthJersey.com and NBC Nightly News, and I\u2019m thrilled to included it here (I was raised in New Jersey and earned my Eagle rank there). Our friend \u201cBryan on Scouting\u201d also published this. Enjoy! \u201cSometimes music can say more than words. \u201cWhen a 13-year-old New Jersey Scout learned that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2601","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2601","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2601"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2601\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2612,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2601\/revisions\/2612"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2601"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2601"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2601"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nHappy Scouting!<\/strong><\/em><\/span>
\nAndy<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n