This Friday, December 15, 2023 will mark the 11 year anniversary of Taps on the Square in downtown Martinsville. Organized by Indiana Spirit of '45, a non-profit organization based in Martinsville, this weekly event has honored the nation's fallen heroes who have served, sacrificed and accomplished their earthly missions each week, without fail. Held at the Morgan County Courthouse flag pole at the corner of Main and Washington Streets, this is now an iconic weekly tradition in this small central-Indiana city, Taps is played each week, no matter what - each festival that takes place on the courthouse square accommodates the group and they come out in all kinds of weather, even occasionally changing venues such as during the County Fair each year.
Each and every Friday evening the group arrives on the downtown square at approximately 6:30 pm and beginning at exactly 6:55 pm, the names of military men and women recently killed in action, as well as local veterans and veterans from across the nation who have passed on are read aloud. Also included are POW/MIA soldiers recovered and identified by DPPA, any Rosie the Riveters, as well as police officers and firemen (even the occasional canine officer). After the reading of the names, a moment of silence is held. Promptly on the seventh bell (7:00 pm), rolling Taps begins to echo out into the community, played by three buglers of Bugles Across America, stationed at various places nearby.
Originally, the event began in December, 2012 as part of a nation-wide call to honor those killed at Sandy Hook Elementary for seven days at seven o'clock. Since that time, the Taps on the Square family in Martinsville, Indiana is the only group in the country who has continued to honor the fallen each and every week, without fail. The group has come out in extreme cold, snow, rain and even in the midst of thunderstorms and throughout the global pandemic. As always, they invite you to stand with them this Friday evening as they honor our heroes once again. Taps can be heard from all corners of the square. Stay to enjoy the many holiday decorations around the square as it gets dark, both at the Courthouse itself, the new downtown performance venue at Jefferson and Pike Streets (where you'll find a 30 foot tall tree!) and at area businesses on the square, then indulge in dinner at one of the downtown area's locally owned restaurants.
In addition to marking the 11 year anniversary of Taps on the Square, December 15 will be the 573rd consecutive presentation of Taps on the Square in Martinsville. Taps on the Square is brought to you by Indiana Spirit of '45 - a non-profit organization dedicated to passing on the "spirit" of the Greatest Generation, who served our nation during WWII. Their mission is to pass on that spirit of service and sacrifice to younger generations so that the Spirit of '45 will be alive forever. Find out more about the Indiana Spirit of '45 group on their website or follow them on Facebook for regular updates.
**Photos in this post are from previously held events. **
