Seasonal resident
plays “Taps” at sunset
The moments just before
sunset are a special time at
the Tradewinds Apartments
of Marco Island. That’s
when residents gather in the
high rise’s beachside courtyard,
socializing as the sunlight
wanes and they await what’s
become a weekday tradition
there — the playing of
“Taps” by a lone bugler.
By Don Manley – Photos by John Wissocki
As the sun meets the horizon, the festive atmosphere turns reverential, with the military
hymn’s somber strains wafting up and down the
beach, echoing off the Tradewinds and the high
rises that flank it on either side, the Admiralty
House and the Emerald Beach.
The playing of “Taps” at sunset has been a seasonal custom at the Tradewinds for the last
eight years, said Ken Porcaro, a Boston resident
who has spent winters there for the last decade.
“Ah, we love it,” said Porcaro. “It’s a symbol of
our national unity and people just love it.”
While some residents congregate in the courtyard, others at the Tradewinds take in the proceedings from their balconies, as do residents at
the Admiralty House and the Emerald Beach.
As the last notes drift from the horn, their
sound is replaced by the applause of onlookers.
This is the first year that the man who began
the tradition, World War II veteran and Illinois
resident Hugh DeSamper, has not been present
to handle the bugling chores. Porcaro explained
that DeSamper’s health prevented him from
traveling to Marco this winter.
Stepping in for him is Frank Berry, an Ontario
resident who is spending his second winter at
the Tradewinds. Berry told DeSamper last season that he was looking forward to playing
echo “Taps” — two buglers who start the song
one after another — with him this year.
“Hugh didn’t come back this year and I was really disappointed by that,” said Berry. “But the
folks here said maybe I could do a little bit of
playing. So that’s what I’ve been doing and I’ve
added ‘Amazing Grace’ at the end and folks
seem to enjoy that.”
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Berry, 74, accomplishes the task with a coronet
that he bought when he was 18 for $105. The
retired high school English teacher began playing the instrument when he was in 10th grade
and continued it as a hobby throughout his
adult life.
His only connection to the military is two maternal uncles, one of them his namesake, who
served in the Canadian army during World
War I. Both were killed and are buried in Belgium. “That inspired me,” said Berry. “I found
out where they’re buried and do you know that
every night, they play ‘Taps’ at the gate of that
cemetery and they’ve been doing it since 1928.
We are the recipients of the price those men
paid and the sacrifices they made.”
Frank Berry’s wife Esther said continuing the
Tradewinds tradition is an honor for her husband. “It’s quite a humbling experience (for
him) to be able to play and to have the people
stand at attention because that song is very
meaningful for a lot of folks,” she said. “He was
pretty nervous the first few times, but with all
the support he’s received, I think we’re feeling
pretty special about all of this.”
CLOCKWISE FROM
TOP LEFT: Frank
Berry’s bugler shares
its case with the
original bill of sale for
the bugler, a photo of
Berry’s wife Esther and
a photo of a trio
group Berry once
performed with. Berry
outside Tradewinds,
where he performs
“Taps” at sunset.
Berry and his wife
Esther inside their
Tradewinds condo.
Berry outside
Tradewinds entrance
after a performance.
The tradition has served to heighten the sense
of community at Tradewinds, according to Jim
and Gigi Lyng, who spend part of the year in
Saratoga, N.Y. “It gives us a reason to come
down in the evening to perhaps share a cocktail
or perhaps share a story or two,” said Gigi Lyng.
“We’re here and excited to hear ‘Taps’ at night,
that’s our excuse. But it’s much more far-reaching than ‘Taps.’ ”
Frank Berry left for Canada in early March but
plans to return next year for another rendition
of “Tap” at sunset. n