Taps
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the hills, from the lake,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.
Today, an American hero was laid to rest. Corporal Howard V. Ramsey passed away peacefully in his sleep on 22 February 2007 at the age of 108. CPL Ramsey was the last known American combat veteran of World War I. There are seven other veterans of WWI still living, but none were shipped overseas, which makes CPL Ramsey the last American Soldier who fought for freedom to pass away. He was born in 1898, a month before Spain declared war on the United States and when the flag bore only 45 stars. His life therefore, extended into three centuries, and he lived through 19 presidencies.
CPL Ramsey displayed the willingness and eagerness to serve in the Armed Forces that has always been a hallmark of American patriotism . Being too young to be drafted, he attempted to enlist voluntarily, only to be turned away because he weighed too little. That didn’t stop him — he ate bananas and drank water until he was able to meet the weight standards. He sailed to France in 1918, where he served under General Pershing.
A chapter in American history has been closed today, and it won’t be long until we lose the remaining veterans from that era and we close the book on it.
God bless you, CPL Ramsey… and thank you.
