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As the U.S. Army marks its 250th anniversary, we are proud to share the story of Army veteran Lash Bragan, whose remarkable commitment to honoring his fellow veterans is a shining example of selfless service, honor and the lifelong bond shared by soldiers and veterans across generations.
After learning that four of the men he served with had passed, Lash Bragan was inspired to sound taps in their memory. With no musical experience, the retired physical education teacher spent six months learning to play the bugle before posting a live rendition on Facebook. And he didn’t stop there. Since 2020, Lash has sounded Taps live on Facebook every night, honoring fellow service members who have passed away.
When the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, he played a tribute to 13 soldiers killed in a bomb attack. The next morning, he was flooded with requests from people asking him to honor their loved ones, or veterans they’d served with.
Lash’s nightly Taps performances are a personal tribute, and he takes the time to learn about the person he will be honoring – thanks to the letters, photos and other details their loved ones share with him. And after each performance, he pens a handwritten note thanking them for their service and sacrifice.
“This has really turned into a lifelong commitment,” says Lash. A live rendition of Taps, he says, carries a resonance of feeling, discipline and sacrifice that you don’t get with a recording. “I’ll do a post every night for as long as I can.”
AARP members can learn more about Lash’s story here: http://spr.ly/61824MgaQ
