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        A soon as everyone was assembled, a young Soldier who was not much taller than me stepped out from the first group and marched stiffly across the area. He carried a trumpet. He stopped near the flag pole. He raised the trumpet and began to play 'Taps'. I had never really listened to the sounds of 'Taps' before. Sometimes I had heard it played at the end of radio shows or in the movies, but I brushed it away. I couldn't brush it away this time. The whole world seemed dead quiet. The only sound was the trumpet. It was beautiful and mournful and the sound completely enveloped all the people in the area.

        I started feeling really strange. As I watched the American flag being taken down from the pole, my hands clenched tightly at my sides. I felt an emptiness, an aloneness come over me. I started shivering from the cold. My cardigan sweater that had been comfortable before was no longer heavy enough. I pulled the sweater tightly about myself. Then I buttoned all the buttons from the very top to the very bottom.

        I never was a cry baby about anything in my whole life. Just about the only time I ever cried was when I got really mad. Right now, I was really, really, REALLY mad at Mr. Roosevelt and the war. I didn't like anything about it anymore. I didn't like the Soldiers, nor the flag pole, nor the Officers, nor the young Soldier with the trumpet. I didn't like the camp. I wanted to go back home the way it was before the Army came into my life. I hated everything! And I wanted to cry a whole lot right now standing here by the Parade Ground. I wanted to stomp my feet and pitch a big hissy fit right here in front of everyone.

        Just then I glanced over across the road and saw Mother and Daddy standing together beside the car. Mother had her hand over her heart and was watching the American flag being taken down from the pole. Daddy was standing at Attention just like all the other Soldiers. He was all stiff  and proud in his Private Army Uniform, saluting just perfect.

        I suddenly had a safe feeling all inside of me.  I put my hand over my heart just like Mother was doing and watched the Flag. I didn't know how, but I knew it was alright if Daddy was gone in the Army for awhile. He said he was proud to serve his country. I was proud of him, too. I was proud my Daddy was in the United States Army. He was a Soldier now and that was going to be alright with me. I felt myself puff all up with proudness for my Country and my Flag and even for the young man playing Taps. I was even proud of that sad, sad, song.