Taps At Sunset Over The Sands Of Weko Beach

Every day at sunset, during the summer season, June through Labor Day, the sound of TAPS being played can be heard from the boardwalk, over the Lake Michigan sands, at Weko Beach in Bridgman, Michigan. The boardwalk, parallel with the beach or the platform in front of the Cafe are good spots for the trumpet player to stand as Taps is being played. Sometimes they play to a beautiful sunset and sometimes there are clouds covering the sun but in either case, the sound of Taps is a beautiful and fitting salute to the end of a day that God has given us. We listen to the sounds with faith, that after the night is over, the sun will again appear and rejoice like a strong man to run it's race. "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable" Psalm 145:3

   Large rock near the entrance of the Cafe

   Unidentified player 063010
   Note:  It has been determined that the previously unidentified player is Marlene
              Beach. I was quite a distance from her when I snapped the picture. A newsgroup
              friend noticed the similarities of the profiles and brought it to my attention.
               Sunset view 063010

   Marlene Beach 070810
               Sun was covered with clouds 070810

   Chuck Corliss  070910
               Sun at beginning of Taps 070910
             Sun at ending of Taps 070910

   Mindy Burns  071310 The sun has set as Mindy's trumpet sounds final note of Taps
                Sun before Taps 071310
                Christian Motorcyclist Association Riders Here For Taps (and ice cream)

   Corky Witt 071610
               Corky Witt plays last note of Taps 071610
               Sun was behind clouds 071610

   Sunday evening cloud formations, July 18, 2010
               View of sun shortly before Taps 071810
               Sun after Chuck Corliss played Taps 071810

   Sound of Taps by Mindy Burns  M4A file (QuickTime or Itunes) 072010
               Sun is still up, but not for long. 072010
               Mindy at the closing of Taps 072010

   Chuck Corliss, Saturday, July 24, 2010
               Sun has set after Taps 072410

   Mindy Burns, Tuesday, July 27, 2010
                    The sunset view from Weko was uneventful this evening, however,
                    my guess is that somewhere in the world it has been beautiful. God
                    is doing great things somewhere, all the time. This is the day
                    the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it.

   Marlene Beach, Thursday, July 29, 2010
               The sun is covered with clouds as it appears to touch the water
               Marlene plays the last notes of Taps 072910

Note:  The next two nights I had the privilege of meeting Jackie Witt,
and photographing her as she played Taps. Jackie has cancer (leukemia) and has adjusted
her schedule of playing Taps around and in-between hospital treatments and
chemo-therapy. She enjoys using her talents and trumpet here at Weko Beach,
and the people enjoy seeing and hearing her.

   Jackie Witt plays Taps under a cloudy sky 073010

   Jackie Witt plays as the sun drops over the horizon 073110
               Before Taps the sun drops out from behind a cloud 073110
               The sun's reflection on the water appears to be a bright path 073110

   Hanging out until the last few minutes of daylight. 080110
                The sun is dipping behind some darker haze 080110
                Chuck Corliss without a trumpet in his hands 080110

   Kyle Sankey has been away for a while 080310
                Wanna go for a walk on the lake? 080310
                It's a good day, let's enjoy it.  080310
                Kyle Sankey's other profile 080310

   The sun looks like a giant hot air balloon hovering over Lake Michigan 080510
                Marlene Beach signals that the sun has set 080510

I watched, on this Friday evening, August 06, 2010 as Jackie Witt walked
up the boardwalk toward me and as she looked up and recognized me I saw a big
friendly smile and I also noticed what looked like a sparkle in her eyes and I
thought, "This lady loves life and she is enjoying it" I took a picture of her later,
as she waited for the time of sunset.
   Jackie Witt, waiting for the sunset and the opportunity to play Taps 080610

   Corky Witt plays as the sun begins dropping over the horizon 080610
                Chuck Corliss and Corky Witt looking toward the sun before Taps 080610
                Corky Witt, shortly before playing Taps 080610

   Jackie Witt, close up, before playing Taps 081010
                The sun is surrounded but not covered with dark clouds 081010

   Marlene Beach in a relaxed mode before playing Taps 081210
                The sea gulls are enjoying the last moments of daylight flight 081210

    The heavens declare the glory of God;
    And the firmanent shows His handiwork.
    Day unto day utters speech,
    And night unto night reveals knowledge.
    There is no speech nor language
    Where their voice is not heard,
    Their line has gone out through all the earth,
    And their words to the end of the world.

    In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,
    Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
    And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.
    Its rising is from one end of heaven,
    And its circuit to the other end;
    And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

    The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
    The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
    The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
    The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
    The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
    The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
    More to be desired are they than gold,  Yea, than much fine gold;
    Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
    Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
    And in keeping them there is great reward.

    Who can understand his errors?
    Cleanse me from secret faults.
    Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
    Let them not have dominion over me.
    Then I shall be blameless,
    And I shall be innocent of great transgression.

    Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
    Be acceptable in Your sight,
    O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

                                           Psalm 19  NKJV

         2011 Click here for page 2, pictures taken in 2011