Taps at the Shrine is an opportunity to provide a moment of reflection and remembrance, for the service and sacrifice of those lost in service to our State and Nation. Buglers volunteer their ability & time, visiting the Shrine at a scheduled date (Friday’s and Saturday’s), playing Taps at 3PM.
The brief event is without fanfare, directing all attention to the purpose - reflection and remembrance; the bugler arrives silently without introduction, and departs without notice at the conclusion. Scheduling is based on volunteer availability.
Join staff and volunteers at the Pennsylvania Military Museum for a moment of remembrance & tribute through the playing of Taps at the 28th Division Shrine. A lone bugler will be positioned at one of the parapets of the Shrine this solemn melody.
This week, Damon Morris will be the bugler for the Pennsylvania Military Museum. Morris began sounding Taps for the Gratz, Pennsylvania VFW “Diamond Jubilee” Post in 1984 and remained post bugler until the early 2000s.
As a member of the Valley Forge Military Academy Regimental Band and Herald Trumpets he served as a regimental bugler sounding all regimental bugle calls associated with cadet life including the sounding of Taps during chapel services. His professional musical career includes: The Die Froehlich Wanderer German Band, Pine Grove Community Band, Principal positions with The Pottsville 3rd Brigade Band, and Lebanon Community Concert Band; Charter Principal Trumpet Central Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra, and Associate Principal Trumpet Hershey Symphony Orchestra.
In 1991 he enlisted in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard 553rd Air Force Band of the Mid-Atlantic until 1997. Upon graduation of Basic Military Training School, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX, he was assigned to the United States Air Force Band Ceremonial Brass, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, DC for initial active duty.
Currently he is a recently retired Corrections Officer at the State Correctional Institution Coal Township, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. He began his career in 1999 and still serves as the bugler for the institution’s Honor Guard. He currently resides in Kulpmont, Pennsylvania with his wife Jennifer and daughter Emily.
This afternoon, Taps is sounded on a Keefer cornet manufactured in Williamsport, PA during World War I(1915) in remembrance of all past veterans, law enforcement officers and Major General Samuel Kosciuszko Zook. Major General Samuel Kosciuszko Zook (a distant relative) was wounded during the battle of Gettysburg July 2, 1863 and died July 3, 1863.